What Is the Most Conductive Element?

 What Is the Most Conductive Element?

Conductivity is a material’s ability to transmit energy. Because there are different forms of energy, there are different types of conductivity, including electrical, thermal, and acoustic conductivity. Silver is the most conductive element, in terms of electrical conductivity. Carbon in the form of diamond is the best thermal conductor (silver is the best metal). After silver, copper is the next best conductor, followed by gold. In general, metals are the best thermal and electrical conductors.

Why Is Silver the Best Conductor?

The reason silver is the best electrical conductor is because its electrons are freer to move than those of other elements. This has to do with silver’s crystal structure and electron configuration. Although silver is the best electrical conductor, it readily tarnishes and loses conductivity, plus it is more expensive than copper. Gold is used when corrosion resistance is important.

Here is a table of the electrical conductivity of the ten most conductive elements. All of these elements are metals. Many alloys are also conductive, including carbon steel, stainless steel, brass, bronze, Galinstan, and Manganin. Nonmetals are electrical insulators, with a few exceptions.

Electrical Conductivity of the Elements

Most conductive elements:

Silver

Copper

Gold

Aluminum

Calcium

Tungsten

Zinc

Cobalt

Nickel

Ruthenium

Thermal Conductivity of the Elements

Here is a table of thermal conductivity of the elements. Most tables only list metals, because metals in general conduct heat better than nonmetals. Diamond (a nonmetal) is an exception.

Diamond (carbon)

Silver

Copper

Gold

Aluminum

Beryllium

Calcium

Tungsten

Magnesium

Rhodium

Silicon