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Electrical Conductance Conductivity of

Metal Semiconductor and Insulator |
Band Theory
More related topics:
Electrical Engineering & Technology
Atomic Structure
Nature of Electricity
Drift Velocity & Electron Mobility
Electric Current
Static Electric Field
Magnetic Field
Electrical Conductance and Conductivity
Electrical Resistance and Resistivity
Resistor
Resistances in Series and Parallel
Theory of Electrical Potential
What is Capacitor and Capacitance?
What is Inductor and Inductance?
Ionization Process
Electrical Power
Electric Lamps

This page is all about:

What is Conductance?
Definition of Electrical Conductance
Equation or Formula of Electrical Conductance
Specific Conductance or Conductivity
Definition of Electrical Conductivity
Unit of Conductance
Unit of Conductivity
Band Theory for Electrical Conductivity
Valance Band
Conduction Band
Band Gap
Electrical Conductivity of Metal
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Table for Conductivity of Different Metals

Electrical Conductivity of Semiconductor
Table for Conductivity of Different Semiconductors
Electrical Conductivity of Insulator
Table for Conductivity of Different Insulators

What is Conductance?
When we apply same potential difference across different conductors, we will see different currents
flow through them. Actually how much current will flow through a specific conductor for certain
applied potential difference across it, depends upon a specific property of the conductor, called
electrical conductance . This property determines how easily a current can flow through a conductor.

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As we know resistance is such a property of a conductor which resists the flow of current through it.
That means, electrical conductance is reciprocal property of resistance. Generally conductance is
denoted as,

Definition of Electrical Conductance

Electrical conductance is defined as a special property of a conductor which determines how easily
an current can flow through it.

Equation or Formula of Electrical Conductance

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Let us take a piece of conductor of length l and cross sectional area A. If length of the conductor is
increased, the electrons have to drift more paths. Hence more chance of inter atomic collision. That
means current gets much harder path to travel, means electrical conductance of the conductor is
reduced.
Thus conductance is inversely proportional to length of the conductor.

If cross sectional area of conductor is increased then current gets more drift electrons. Hence,
conductance of the conductor is increased.

From equation (1) & (2),

Where, = constant of proportional known as conductivity or specific conductance .

Specific Conductance or Conductivity

In the equation of the conductance we have already mentioned the term or Sigma as conductivity.
Now in that equation if we put l = 1 m & A = 1 m2 then G = . That indicates is the conductance of a
conductor whose length is 1 m & cross sectional area is 1 m2. That mean specific conductance or
conductivity is the conductance of a conductor whose volume is 1 m 1 m2 = 1 m3.

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Definition of Electrical Conductivity

Conductivity is the conductance of a material per unit volume.
Electrical conductivity is a basic property of material. Due to this property one material can conduct
electricity. Some materials are good conductor of electricity that means current can pass through
them very easily; again some materials do not allow current to flow through them. The material
through which current passes easily, called good conductor of electricity in other words, the
electrical conductivity of these materials is high. On the other hand the materials do not allow the
current to flow through them are called electrical insulators. There are some materials whose
electrical conductivity is not as high as conductor and also not as poor as insulator, they have an
intermediate conductivity and these type of materials are known as semiconductors.

Unit of Conductance
As we mentioned earlier conductance is reciprocal of resistance of resistance. That is,

Unit of resistance is ohm & that is why unit of conductance is generally written as mho the reverse
spelling of ohm. A modern electrical engineering, mho is named by Siemens.

Unit of Conductivity
The equation of conductivity, we have already deducted as,

Hence, unit of conductivity is,

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Here, S is Siemens.

Table of Resistivity and Conductivity of Different

Materials at 20C
MATERIAL

RESISTIVITY AT 20C

CONDUCTIVITY 20C

Air

1.3 1016 to 3.3 1016

3 10-15 to 8 10-15

Aluminum

2.82 10-8

3.5 107

Annealed copper

1.72 10-8

5.80 107

Calcium

3.36 10-8

2.98 107

Carbon (amorphous)

5 10-4 to 8 10-4

1.25 to 2 103

Carbon (diamond)

1 1012

~10-13

Carbon (graphite)

2.5 10-6 to 5.0 10-6 //basal plane

2 to 3 105 //basal plane

Carbon steel

-1010

1.43 10-7

Constantan

4.9 10-7

2.04 106

Copper

1.68 10-8

5.96 107

Deionized water

1.8 105

5.5 10-6

Drinking water

2 101 to 2 103

5 10-4 to 5 10-2

Fused quartz

7.5 1017

1.3 10-18

GaAs

5 10-7 to 10 10-3

5 10-8 to 103

Germanium

4.6 10-1

2.17

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Glass

10 1010 to 10 1014

10-11 to 10-15

Gold

2.44 10-8

4.10 107

Grain oriented electrical steel

4.60 10-7

2.17 106

Hard rubber

1 1013

10-14

Iron

1.0 10-7

1.00 107

Lead

2.2 10-7

4.55 106

Lithium

9.28 10-8

1.08 107

Manganin

4.82 10-7

2.07 106

Mercury

9.8 10-7

1.02 106

Nichrome

1.10 10-6

9.09 105

Nickel

6.99 10-8

1.43 107

Paraffin wax

1 1017

10-18

PET

10 1020

10-21

Platinum

1.06 10-7

9.43 106

Sea water

2 10-1

4.8

Silicon

6.40 102

1.56 10-3

Silver

1.59 10-8

6.30 107

Stainless steel

6.9 10-7

1.45 106

Sulfur

1 1015

10-16

Teflon

10 1022 to 10 1024

10-25 to 10-23

Tin

1.09 10-7

9.17 106

Titanium

4.20 10-7

2.38 106

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Tungsten

5.60 10-8

1.79 107

Wood (damp)

1 103 to 4

10-4 to 10-3

Wood (oven dry)

1 1014 to 16

10-16 to 10-14

Zinc

5.90 10-8

1.69 107

Band Theory for Electrical Conductivity

The electrons in the outer most orbit of an atom experiences least attraction force. So the outermost
atom can easily be detached from the parent atom. Lets explain the details with band theory
When a number of atoms are brought together, the electrons of one atom experience forces of other
atoms. This effect is most pronounced in outer most orbits. Due to this force, the energy levels, which
were sharply defined in an isolated atom, are now broadened into energy bands. Due to this
phenomenon generally two bands result, namely valance band and conduction band.

Valance Band
The outermost orbital of an atom, where electrons are so tightly bounded that; they cannot be
removed as free electron

Conduction Band
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This is the highest energy level or orbital in outer most shell, in which electrons are free enough to
move.

Band Gap
There is one energy gap that separates these two bands, the valance band and conduction band. This
gap is called forbidden energy gap.

Electrical Conductivity of Metal

In metals, the atoms are so tightly packed that electron of one atom experience sufficiently
significant force of other closed atoms. The result, the valance band and conduction band in metals
come very closer to each other and may even overlap. Consequently, by receiving very small amount
of energy from external heat or electrical energy source, the electrons readily ascend to higher levels
in the metal. Such electrons are known as free electrons. These free electrons are responsible for
current that flows through a metal. When external electric source is connected to a piece of metal,
these free electrons start flowing towards higher potential terminal of the source, causing current to
flow in the metal. In metal, density of free electrons in conduction band is much higher than other
materials, hence metal is referred as very good electrical conductor. In other words electrical
conductivity of metal is very good.

Table for Conductivity of Different Metals

METALS

CONDUCTIVITY IN SIEMENS/METER AT 20C

Silver

6.3010 7

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Copper

5.96X10 7

Aluminium

3.5X10 7

Annealed copper

5.80X10 7

Calcium

2.98X10 7

Carbon steel (1010)

6.99X10 6

Constantan

2.04X10 6

GaAs

5X108 to 10 3

Gold

4.10X10 7

Grain oriented electrical steel

2.17X10 6

Iron

1.00X10 7

Lead

4.55X10 6

Lithium

1.08X10 7

Manganin

2.07X10 6

Mercury

1.02X10 6

Nichrome

9.09X10 5

Nickel

1.43X10 7

Platinum

9.43X10 6

Stainless steel

1.45X10 6

Tin

9.17X10 6

Titanium

2.38X10 6

Tungsten

1.79X10 7

Zinc

1.69X10 7

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Electrical Conductivity of Semiconductor

In semiconductor the valance band and conduction band are separated by a forbidden gap of
sufficient width. At low temperature, no electron possesses sufficient energy to occupy the
conduction band and thus no movement of charge is possible. But at room temperature it is possible
for some electrons to give sufficient energy and make the transitions in conduction band. The density
of electrons in conduction band at room temperature is not as high as in metals, thus cannot conduct
current as good as metal. The electrical conductivity of semiconductor is not as high as metal but
also not as poor as electrical insulator. That is why, this type of material is called semiconductor
means half conductor.

Table for Conductivity of Different Semiconductors

SEMICONDUCTOR

CONDUCTIVITY IN SIEMENS/METER AT 20C

Germanium

2.17

Silicon

1.56X10 3

Electrical Conductivity of Insulator

Ideally electrical conductivity of an electrical insulator is nil. The atoms in the insulator molecules are
electrically stable enough. The outer most shells of these atoms are completely filled with electrons.
In such material where forbidden gap is very large and as a result the energy required by the electron
to cross over to the conduction band is practically large enough. Insulators do not conduct electricity
easily. That means the electrical conductivity of insulator is very poor.

Table for Conductivity of Different Insulators

INSULATOR

CONDUCTIVITY IN SIEMENS PER METER AT 20C

Air

3X1015 to 81015

Fused quartz

1.3X1018

Glass

1011 to 1015

Hard rubber

10 14

Paraffin wax

1018

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PET

1021

Sulfur

1016

Teflon

1025 to 1023

Wood

10 16 to 10 -14

Objective Questions on Resistance (MCQs)

What is electrical conductance?
What is electrical conductivity or specific conductance of a conductor?
What is electric conductor?

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