What is the role of free electrons in conducting liquid in electric current ?
Answers
Answer:
Explanation:
Well, we know that metals conduct electricity by the means of mobile electrons. The outermost electrons in metals are loosely held due to which they can move from atom to atom. This is why metals are excellent conductors of electricity. Liquids, on the other hand, conduct electricity by other means. Unlike in metals, the chemical bonding in liquids does not allow for electrons to move freely. This means we have to introduce charges into the water before it can start conducting. Certain compounds (ionic Compounds) dissolve in water, they do so by dissociating or breaking up their bonds. When the bond is broken, the components of the compound break apart to yield multiple constituent atoms with a charge on it. The atom loses an electron(s) to have more protons than electrons and similarly an atom gains electrons to have more electrons than protons. This leads to a charge imbalance leading to a positive or a negative charge on the atom. The atom that becomes charged by losing or gaining one or more electrons is called an Ion. Compounds that dissociates into ions in water are called Ionic Compounds.
Answer:
strong conductors, such as copper, free electrons flow around the metallic atoms like water around islands, moving freely from one atom to the next. When an electric field is applied to a metal, it causes these electrons to move from place to place.