Types of Conductors

There are mainly three types of electric conductors:

• Metals
• Semiconductors
• Ionic Solutions
• Ohmic Conductors
• Non Ohmic Conductors

1. Metals

They are the type of substance which is characterized by their ability to conduct electricity. They are malleable and shiny in their appearance. They are found on the periodic table’s left side which include elements such as iron, copper, gold, aluminum, etc.

Important Characteristics of Metals

• Conductivity: Metals have large number of free electrons which moves freely to conduct the electricity.
• Malleability: This means that metals can be easily beaten into thin sheets without breaking. They can be hammered, rolled, and stretched to form various shapes.
• Ductility: It means that the metals can be drawn into these wires without breaking.
• Luster: It means shine. Metals have the property or ability to reflect light off their smooth surface.
• Melting and boiling points: Metals generally have high melting point and boiling points due to strong metallic bonds between them.

Examples of Metals

Some of the examples of metals are Copper, Aluminum, Silver, Gold, Brass, Iron etc.

2. Semiconductors

A semiconductor is a type of material with qualities that are midway between those of conductors like metals and insulators like non-metals. They have distinct electrical behavior that makes them ideal for a wide range of electronic applications such as transistors, diodes, integrated circuits, etc. Semiconductors are of two types i.e. p-type ( majority charge carriers are holes) and n-type semiconductor (majority charge carriers are electrons) as seen in the figure below.

Important characteristics of Semiconductors

• Conductivity: Their conductivity is in between conductors and insulators. Their conductivity can be modified using doping.
• Doping: It means adding impurities into a semiconductor to improve or modify its electrical properties. There are two types of doping i.e. p-type or n-type.
• Temperature: Electric properties of a semiconductor depend on the temperature. When there is a rise in the temperature, the number of available electrons or holes increases which leads to a change in conductivity.
• Optical properties: Semiconductor materials can absorb and emit light at particular energy levels which makes them useful for the applications like LEDs and diodes.

Examples of Semiconductors

Some of the examples of semiconductors are Silicon, Germanium, Gallium Arsenide.

3. Ionic Solutions

Ionic solutions are the solutions that contain ions and charged particles that dissolved in a solvent. They are also known as electrolyte solutions. The solution can conduct electricity due to the presence of the ions. These ions can move freely and can carry the electric charges. Ionic solution plays an important role in electrochemistry, biology and, material science.

As seen in the above figure, distilled water (A) does not have any ions to conduct electricity. The second condition (B) has the ions, but they are fixed, hence do not conduct electricity. The last condition (C) has the free moving ions and hence the bulbs glow.

Important characteristics of Ionic Solutions

• Ions: They are the atoms or molecules with a net electric charge. Positively charged ions are known as cations, and negatively charged ions are known as anions.
• Conductivity: They are a good conductor of electricity because of the presence of free electrons or ions in a solution or electrolyte. Conductivity depends on the concentration of ions in the solution and their mobility.
• Ion dissociation: When an ionic compound dissolves in a solvent such as water, the positive and negative ions dissociate and gets surrounded by the water. This process is known as ionization.

Examples of Ionic Solutions

Some of the examples of ionic solutions are Sodium Chloride (NaCl), Hydrochloric acid (HCl), Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH).

4. Ohmic Conductors

It is one of the type of conductors which works on the principle of ohm’s law, is called ohmic conductors. Therefore, voltage applied is directly proportional to the current flow.

The formula for Ohm’s law is given below : 

V=IR

Examples of Ohmic Conductors

Some of the examples of ohmic conductors are aluminium, silver and copper.

5. Non – Ohmic Conductors

It is one of the type of conductors which works don’t follows ohm’s law, is called non – ohmic conductors.

Examples of Non – Ohmic Conductors

Some of the examples of non – ohmic conductors are thermistors and photoresistors.

Electric conductors are materials that allow electric charge to flow through their atomic structure as electrons. Insulators that obstruct the flow of electrons, and conductors allow the charged particles to move freely. In this article we will explore conductors along with conductor examples and types. We will also discuss the difference between conductor and insulator and properties, applications, advantages and disadvantages of conductor.