Why do materials such as copper, silver, or tin tend to get hot very quickly when heated?

Question:

Why do materials such as copper, silver, or tin tend to get hot very quickly when heated?

Properties of Metals:

The metals have characteristics properties like sharp boiling and melting temperature, higher conductivity, a higher metallic character, etc. These are the properties that define metal and that is why metals have many applications.

Answer and Explanation: 1

The materials that conduct electricity or heat are called conductors whereas the materials that do not conduct electricity are called insulators. The good or bad conductor depends on the extent of transfer of heat or electricity by the material.

For example, wood is an insulator as no transfer of heat is observed while metals are a good conductor of heat and electricity.


The metals exist in solid form and have higher melting and boiling points. The metal contains an electron pool, due to this the mobility is very high. When the metal is subject to heat, the heat is transferred in the metal from the vibrations within the atoms packed closely. Thus metals are known to be good conductors of heat and electricity.


Thus, metals gets very hot when subjected to heating is because metals are very good conductors of heat and electricity.


Learn more about this topic:

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Insulators & Conductors Lesson for Kids: Definition & Examples

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Chapter 6 / Lesson 6
21K

Conductors are materials that allow the flow of electricity while insulators are materials that do not. Learn about the definitions and examples of conductors and insulators, and understand how insulators block the flow of charges.


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