Bismuth is a weakly radioactive element with atomic number 83. This article is concerned with the electrical conductivity of bismuth in detail.
Bismuth conducts electricity because it is metal, but its electrical conductivity is very poor as it has a stable electronic configuration having three electrons in the 6p orbital. Thus, it merely allows the electric current to flow across it as very few electric fluxes pass through its matter.
Bismuth is used in electric fuses, fire extinguishers, and detectors. The compounds of bismuth are used in pharmaceuticals. We shall further discuss the electrical conductivity of bismuth, the reason behind its poor conductivity, and whether it is a good conductor of heat, in detail.
How does bismuth conduct electricity?
The matter conducts electricity if the electric fluxes can pass through it. Let us discuss in detail whether bismuth conducts electricity or not.
Bismuth conducts electricity due to the agility of its five electrons in the valence shell. Very few bismuth electrons participate in the conduction of electricity as they are in a stable state, and enormous energy is required to overcome the neutron-electron interaction allowing the electric flux to pass through it.
Electrical Conductivity of Bismuth
The electrical conductivity of bismuth depends upon the total availability of charges that takes part in conduction. Let us discuss the electrical conductivity of bismuth.
The electrical conductivity of bismuth is 7.75 × 105 S/m. It is inversely equal to its electrical resistivity (1290 nΏ.m). The electrical conductivity of bismuth is found using a formula σ = 1/ρ, where σ is the electrical conductivity of bismuth and ρ is the resistivity. The resistivity decreases with the length.
Why is bismuth a poor conductor for electricity?
Good conductors are those which have high availability of free electrons. Let us understand the reason behind the poor conductivity of bismuth.
Bismuth is a poor conductor of electricity because very few electrons take part in the electric conductivity of electricity as the valence orbital of bismuth is stable. The valence orbital of bismuth is the 6s which is filled, and the 6p orbital is half-filled but stable.
Does bismuth conduct heat?
The conductors of heat allow the heat to transmit through the matter from one end to another. Let us discuss whether bismuth conducts heat or not.
Bismuth conducts heat and is the poorest conductor of heat among all the metals, but it is not an insulator. Bismuth does not entirely allow the heat flux to pass through the metal. It conducts heat because it is a metal. The heat is transmitted through the bismuth at a very low rate.
What is the thermal conductivity of bismuth?
Thermal conductivity is a property of metal to conduct the flow of heat through it. Let us talk about the thermal conductivity of bismuth in detail.
The thermal conductivity of bismuth is 8 W/m.K. It determines the total heat energy acquired per molecule of bismuth. The thermal conductivity of bismuth can be obtained by measuring the total heat flux. It is found by the expression k = Qd/A∆T, where k is thermal conductivity, and Q is heat energy.
Why is the conductivity of potassium more than that of bismuth?
The conductivity of metal depends upon the number of charges available that conduct the current flow. Let us understand why the conductivity of potassium is more than bismuth.
The electrical conductivity of potassium is more than the bismuth because potassium has a single electron in 4s orbital which can be easily dissociated. Bismuth has no free electron, and high energy is required to dislocate the electron. Thus, the electrical conductivity of potassium is very high compared to bismuth.
Conclusion
Bismuth is a poor conductor of heat and electricity as all the orbital of bismuth are in a most stable state, and thus a huge amount of energy is required to break the bonds and set the electrons in a free state. Very few electric fluxes pass through the bismuth, and thus the electric conductivity of bismuth is less.
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Hi, I’m Akshita Mapari. I have done M.Sc. in Physics. I have worked on projects like Numerical modeling of winds and waves during cyclone, Physics of toys and mechanized thrill machines in amusement park based on Classical Mechanics. I have pursued a course on Arduino and have accomplished some mini projects on Arduino UNO. I always like to explore new zones in the field of science. I personally believe that learning is more enthusiastic when learnt with creativity. Apart from this, I like to read, travel, strumming on guitar, identifying rocks and strata, photography and playing chess.
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