Question

Why are metals used to make electric wire and electrical goods?

Answer 1

Metals have THREE characteristic properties...

Explanation:

`(i)` `"Metals are malleable."` They can be beaten into a sheet (cf. Latin, malleus , hammer).

`(ii)` `"Metals are ductile."` They can be drawn out into a wire.

`(iii)` `"Metals are conductive to heat and electricity."`

These properties are conceived to arise from the common description of metals: positive ions in a sea of electrons, the which allows movement of metal atoms with respect to each other WITHOUT disrupting the metallic bond. Ask your teacher for a SMALL bit of sodium. If you put this in a plastic bag you can roll it out with a bottle as you would with a sheet of pastry. Of course, you got to dispose of the sodium afterwards, but your teacher will know how to do this....