Answer to Question #302095 in General Chemistry for Hutchii

Question

Why are metals good conductors of heat and electricity? Why does the ability of a metal to conduct electricity decrease with increasing temperature?

Answer 1

Metals are good conductors of both of heat and electricity because at least one electron per atom is free.

The decrease in conductivity in metals with increasing temperature is due to the increasing vibrations of the atoms in the crystal lattice. The more the atoms vibrate, the more they impede the flow of electrons and the harder it becomes for

them to travel in the material.