What does electrical conductivity mean?

The specific electrical conductivity characterizes the ability of substances to conduct an electric current, this quantity is inversely proportional to the specific electrical resistance.

When it comes to the specific value, it is meant to find the measure of the parameter for the unit of the object being characterized. Let's start with simple, common examples that will help to quickly understand the essence of what is happening.

Specific density is the simplest parameter, showing the mass of one cubic meter of substance under normal conditions. In this case, the measure of the parameter is a kilogram, and the unit of the object is a cubic meter.

The condition for conducting measurements under normal conditions is introduced for certainty, since with increasing pressure, strictly speaking, a cubic meter of matter will have a mass greater than at normal pressure. Looking ahead, we note that semiconductors, for example, can very significantly change their electrical resistance when the temperature or illumination changes.

Now let us return to the question of what is the electrical conductivity itself. As mentioned above, this quantity is the reciprocal of the resistivity, which in turn is interpreted as follows:

The resistivity is the resistance of a cube of matter with a side of 1 meter of electric current, provided that the current flows strictly perpendicular to one of the faces of the cube. Similarly, conductivity can be treated , just add that the requirements for making measurements under normal conditions for this case are also vital.

At the moment, science believes that the electrical conductivity is directly proportional to the square of the charge of the particles forming the current, their quantity in matter by the amount of the volume, and inversely proportional to the mobility of the charge carriers. In understanding this interpretation, there is also an explanation of why Ohm's law does not apply to gases. At a certain value of the intensity of the electromagnetic field, the ionization process takes place, and the current increases in an avalanche. That is used in welding or in elementary fluorescent lamps.

As for solutions, the situation is much more interesting if we approach them from this position. The electrical conductivity of solutions depends, first of all, on the number of charge carriers, which are free ions, charged negatively or positively. Since there are no such ions in pure distilled water , the specific electric conductivity of water is close to zero. This means that the current through clean water will not go. On this phenomenon methods of measuring mineralization or contamination of water, in particular ph-factor, are based.

Specific electrical conductivity is the decisive moment that makes use of precious metals in electronics. Due to the extremely high value of this parameter, precious metals become an essential element of the most accurate measuring technology. Little is known that the reflectivity of a metal also largely depends on its resistance, which is why mirrors are often made of silver.