Electrical Conductivity Order of Alkali Metals
- What are alkali metals?
- What is electrical conductivity?
- Order of electrical conductivity in alkali metals
- Explanation of the order
What are alkali metals?
Alkali metals are a group of chemical elements that are highly reactive and are found in Group 1 of the periodic table. They include lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, and francium.
What is electrical conductivity?
Electrical conductivity is the ability of a material to conduct electricity. It is determined by the number of free electrons in the material, which are able to move freely through the material and carry an electric charge.
Order of electrical conductivity in alkali metals
The order of electrical conductivity in alkali metals is:
1. Francium (Fr)
2. Cesium (Cs)
3. Potassium (K)
4. Sodium (Na)
5. Lithium (Li)
6. Rubidium (Rb)
Explanation of the order
The order of electrical conductivity in alkali metals can be explained by the number of valence electrons in each element. Valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell of an atom that are involved in chemical reactions.
Francium has the highest electrical conductivity because it has the most valence electrons (one more than cesium). Cesium has the second-highest electrical conductivity because it has one less valence electron than francium. Potassium has the third-highest electrical conductivity because it has one less valence electron than cesium.
Sodium has the fourth-highest electrical conductivity because it has one less valence electron than potassium. Lithium has the fifth-highest electrical conductivity because it has one less valence electron than sodium. Rubidium has the lowest electrical conductivity because it has one less valence electron than potassium.
In summary, the greater the number of valence electrons, the higher the electrical conductivity.