does iron sulfide conduct electricitydoes iron sulfide conduct electricity

Sodium chloride dissolves in water to give a neutral solution. Electrolysis reactions will not run unless energy is put into the system from outside. Does iron sulphide conduct electricity? - Answers FeS adopts the nickel arsenide structure, featuring octahedral Fe centers and trigonal prismatic sulfide sites. Even so, the discovery is already altering the course of research in superconductivity. For other uses, see, Iron sulfide, ferrous sulfide, black iron sulfide, protosulphuret of iron, Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their. (B) Cinnabar the primary ore of mercury is mercury(II) sulfide, HgS. [3] This reaction occurs more rapidly in older eggs as the whites are more alkaline.[4]. Ionic compounds are generally hard, but brittle. However, when that happens, it brings ions of the same charge next to each other (see Figure below ). 5 ways to teach elements, compounds and mixtures at 1114, How to teach intermolecular forces at 1416, Gold coins on a microscale | 1416 years, Practical potions microscale | 1114 years, Antibacterial properties of the halogens | 1418 years. From this formula, we can state that the conductivity of a material is directly proportional to its length and inversely related to its resistance and the area of the cross-section. The iron sulfide minerals present in MB are either greigite or a mixture of greigite and transient nonmagnetic iron sulfide phases that likely represent precursors to greigite (Psfai et al. Bell, Terence. Is Magnesium Sulfide Magnetic? As there isn't enough energy around to do that, the pairs flow freely. When sodium atoms come together, the electron in the 3s atomic orbital of one sodium atom shares space with the corresponding electron on a neighboring atom to form a molecular orbital - in much the same sort of way that a covalent bond is formed. How much U.S. forest is old growth? Moving electrons do experience resistance, though. For detailed physical properties, see sulfide mineral. The left side (from ionic to metallic) is meant for delocalized bonds with varying electronegativity difference. We also acknowledge previous National Science Foundation support under grant numbers 1246120, 1525057, and 1413739. Pyrite is called fools gold; to the novice its colour is deceptively similar to that of a gold nugget. The oxidation number of an element in this group can range from +3 to -2, depending on the group in which it is located. Pyrite occurs in large deposits in contact metamorphic rocks. Ionic compounds cannot conduct electricity in the solid state because their ions are held in fixed positions and cannot move. There is little doubt that, as predicted, the material is a conventional superconductor. List and describe the physical properties of ionic compounds. Yes, iron conducts electricity in both solid and liquid states. When two atoms of slightly differing electronegativities come together to form a covalent bond, one atom attracts the electrons more than the other; this is called a polar covalent bond. Understanding Electrical, Thermal, and Sound Conductors, Covalent or Molecular Compound Properties. 5.1 Atomic structure and the periodic table, 5.1.1 A simple model of the atom, symbols, relative atomic mass, electronic charge and isotopes, Unit 1: CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES, REACTIONS and ESSENTIAL RESOURCES, 1.1 THE NATURE OF SUBSTANCES AND CHEMICAL REACTIONS, (b) elements as substances made up of only one type of atom, (c) compounds as substances made of two or more different types of atom that are chemically joined and having completely different properties to its constituent elements, 2.1 THE NATURE OF SUBSTANCES AND CHEMICAL REACTIONS, Unit 1: Structures, Trends, Chemical Reactions, Quantitative Chemistry and Analysis. Things That Don't Conduct Electricity and Things That Do. Preparation and structure FeS can be obtained by the heating of iron and sulfur: [1] Fe + S FeS These free electrons vibrate with escalating heat energy and transmit it further to the surrounding particles. Is. It shows the exothermic reaction of two elements, iron and sulfur, to form the compound, iron sulfide. Metals are good conductors of electricity because they allow electrons to flow through the entire piece of material. Because of the many simultaneous attractions between cations and anions that occur, ionic crystal lattices are very strong. Metals tend to have high melting points and boiling points suggesting strong bonds between the atoms. Ionic compounds have high melting points. Metal, iron, & nickel | Some Meteorite Information | Washington Simple molecular. This model may account for: However, these observations are only qualitative, and not quantitative, so they cannot be tested. The figure above shows just a few examples of the color and brilliance of naturally occurring ionic crystals. These don't readily conduct but if enough energy is supplied, the electrons will move. All elements except hydrogen, which form positive ions by losing electrons during chemical reactions are called metals. Iron may be extracted from iron (II) sulfide, FeS. If you work through the same argument above for sodium with magnesium, you end up with stronger bonds and hence a higher melting point. It is made of atoms. Simply put, electrical conductors are materials that conduct electricity and insulators are materials that do not. The theory must also account for all of a metal's unique chemical and physical properties. Corrections? When solidified, the compound conducts electricity without resistance at 203.5 K. That's still coldabout 70C below the freezing point of water. Because of the availability of much better sources of iron, pyrite is not generally used as an iron ore. For many years Spain was the largest producer, the large deposits located on the Tinto River being important also for copper. Metals Versus Nonmetals - Comparing Properties, Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College. Chemistry SL P2 Flashcards | Quizlet These reactions have many uses. (B) When struck by a hammer, the negatively-charged chloride ions are forced near each other and the repulsive force causes the crystal to shatter. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. The difference, however, is that each sodium atom is being touched by eight other sodium atoms - and the sharing occurs between the central atom and the 3s orbitals on all of the eight other atoms. "Electrical Conductivity of Metals." Magnesium has the outer electronic structure 3s2. Mazin is less optimistic. All are black, water-insoluble solids. The iron sulfide mineral pyrite has been called fool's gold because of its pale, brass yellow color and glistening metallic luster. Organic molecules are mostly insulators because they're held together by covalent (shared electron) bonds and because hydrogen bonding helps stabilize many molecules. \[3Br_{2(l)} + 2Al_{(s)} \rightarrow 2AlBr_{3(s)}\], \[CO_{2(g)} + H_2O_{(l)} \rightarrow \underset{\text{carbonic acid}}{H_2CO_{3(aq)}}\], \[CO_{2(g)} + 2NaOH_{(aq)} \rightarrow Na_2CO_{3(aq)} + H_2O_{(l)}\]. Because of this, the flow of electrical currents can heat conductive materials. In this article, we shall talk about whether iron can conduct electricity or not. Chlorides of Period 3 Elements - Chemistry LibreTexts In the second beaker, solid sodium chloride also does not conduct a current. Even a soft metal like sodium (melting point 97.8C) melts at a considerably higher temperature than the element (neon) which precedes it in the Periodic Table. These free electrons are accumulated on the iron surface upon dislocating/ exciting from the atoms after gaining sufficient energy required to excite in the higher energy levels. The degradation of cysteine releases hydrogen sulfide gas that reacts with the ferric citrate to produce ferrous sulfide. Legal. So not only will there be a greater number of delocalized electrons in magnesium, but there will also be a greater attraction for them from the magnesium nuclei. They are characterized by bright luster, hardness, ability to resonate sound and are excellent conductors of heat and electricity. Using 36 main group elements, such as metals, metalloids and non-metals, he placed ionic, metallic and covalent bonds on the corners of an equilateral triangle, as well as suggested intermediate species. This collection of over 200 practical activities demonstrates a wide range of chemical concepts and processes. The bond triangle shows that chemical bonds are not just particular bonds of a specific type. Wheel-lock guns, in which a spring-driven serrated wheel rotated against a piece of pyrite, were used before development of the flintlock. This is a resource from thePractical Chemistry project, developed by the Nuffield Foundation and the Royal Society of Chemistry. (A) Distilled water does not conduct electricity. Yes, all metals have free electrons which allow the to conduct electricity. NuffieldFoundation and the Royal Society of Chemistry, Use these teacher-tested ideas to ensure your students dont get mixed up about chemical substances, Use these ideas to help your students master this challenging topic and gain a deeper understanding of the forces at play, Differentiated worksheets guide learners to consider word equations, symbol equations and conservation of mass linked to simple decomposition reactions, Practical experiment where learners produce gold coins by electroplating a copper coin with zinc, includes follow-up worksheet. Is a metal made up of atoms or ions? Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "10 Examples of Electrical Conductors and Insulators." Some rare meteorites do not contain any appreciable metal and, consequently, they have low concentrations of Ni. Help News from Science publish trustworthy, high-impact stories about research and the people who shape it. Under an electric field, free electrons move through the metal much like billiard balls knocking against each other, passing an electric charge as they move. That measurement was a significant feat, as the experimenters' disk-shaped sample had a diameter smaller than the width of a human hair. By the same token, the most effective conductors of electricity are metals that have a single valence electron that is free to move and causes a strong repelling reaction in other electrons. This color change is due to iron(II) sulfide, which forms as iron from the yolk reacts with hydrogen sulfide released from the egg white by the heat. Students should be provided with pre-prepared, The ignition tubes should be left to cool on the heat resistant mat. On a billiard table, this occurs when a ball strikes against another single ball, passing most of its energy onto the next ball. Stinky hydrogen sulfide smashes superconductivity record If we've learned anything from the COVID-19 pandemic, it's that we cannot wait for a crisis to respond. That bested the record of 164 K for a copper-and-oxygen superconductor squeezed to 350,000 times atmospheric pressure. The, Build a lesson plan around this experiment, Prepare a mixture containing iron powder and, Note the appearance of the pure elements and the mixture. 2.11: Metals, Nonmetals, and Metalloids - Chemistry LibreTexts Do this by wrapping the end of a small bar magnet in a paper tissue or cling film, and dipping it into a teaspoon sized heap of the mixture on a watch glass. Whereas ionic bonds join metals to non-metals, metallic bonding joins a bulk of metal atoms. For the demonstration the teacher will need: Filter paper (2 peices or use 2 weighing boats). \(\ce{NaCl}\) is an ionic crystal structure, and an electrolyte when dissolved in water; \(\Delta \chi =1.58\), average \(\sum \chi =1.79\), while silicon tetrafluoride is covalent (molecular, non-polar gas; \(\Delta \chi =2.08\), average \(\sum \chi =2.94\). Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. Covalent bonds have moderate to high average \(\sum \chi\) and can exist with moderately low \(\Delta \chi\). "It's hard to conceive how these conditions could be achieved at ambient pressure," he says. What Are the Parts of the Periodic Table. Electrical Conductivity of Metals. Iron sulfide - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Non-metals have a tendency to gain or share electrons with other atoms. { Band_Structure : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", Bond_Energies : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", Bond_Order_and_Lengths : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", Chemical_Bonds : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", Contrasting_MO_and_VB_theory : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "Coordinate_(Dative_Covalent)_Bonding" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", Covalent_Bonding : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", Covalent_Bonds : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", Covalent_Bonds_vs_Ionic_Bonds : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "Covalent_Bond_Distance,_Radius_and_van_der_Waals_Radius" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", Electrostatic_Potential_maps : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", Ionic_Bonds : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", Metallic_Bonding : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "Non-Singular_Covalent_Bonds" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "Valence-Shell_Electron-Pair_Repulsion_Models" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()" }, { Fundamentals_of_Chemical_Bonding : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", Lewis_Theory_of_Bonding : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", Molecular_Orbital_Theory : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", Valence_Bond_Theory : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()" }, [ "article:topic", "metallic bonding", "authorname:clarkj", "van Arkel-Ketelaar Triangle", "showtoc:no", "license:ccbysa", "license:ccbync", "licenseversion:40" ], https://chem.libretexts.org/@app/auth/3/login?returnto=https%3A%2F%2Fchem.libretexts.org%2FBookshelves%2FPhysical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry_Textbook_Maps%2FSupplemental_Modules_(Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry)%2FChemical_Bonding%2FFundamentals_of_Chemical_Bonding%2FMetallic_Bonding, \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}}}\) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\), Example \(\PageIndex{1}\): Metallic bonding in magnesium, The number of electrons that become delocalized from the metal. In the third beaker, the NaCl has been dissolved into the distilled water. In the first beaker, distilled water does not conduct a current because water is a molecular compound. Let us see why iron can conduct electricity. The motion/agility of particles increases with the rising temperature. Electrical conductivity across period 3 Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar Period 3 element 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 Relative electrical conductivity (Al = 1) menu.label.undefined. Pyrite weathers rapidly to hydrated iron oxide, goethite, or limonite; pseudomorphs of goethite after pyrite are common. Heat the powder mixture at the base of the test tube gently at first and then more strongly (use a blue flame throughout). Chemical reactions always involve the formation of one or more new substances, and often involve a detectable energy change. Wear eye protection throughout and ensure that the lab is well ventilated. Allow the test tube to cool down. Selected Phenomena of the In-Mold Nodularization Process of Cast Iron Each magnesium atom also has twelve near neighbors rather than sodium's eight. A metallic bonding theory must explain how so much bonding can occur with such few electrons (since metals are located on the left side of the periodic table and do not have many electrons in their valence shells). It shows theexothermic reaction of two elements, iron and sulfur, to form the compound, iron sulfide. sulphide) is one of a family chemical compounds and minerals with the approximate formula Fe S. Iron sulfides are often iron-deficient non-stoichiometric. (A) The sodium chloride crystal is shown in two dimensions. This is sometimes described as "an array of positive ions in a sea of electrons". We say While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. This movement or flow of electrons is called electricity so this Shiny hematite or pyrite aggregates will have high electrical resistance because they do not conduct electricity. Insert a plug of mineral wool (mineral fibre) into the mouth of the test tube. Electrical conductivity is a property of matter that determines the total electric flux flowing through the matter. For example, electrolysis is a process that involves forcing electricity through a liquid or solution to cause a reaction to occur. We can conclude with this article that iron is a good electric conductor, but its magnetic moment retracts it from being the best electric conductor. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "10 Examples of Electrical Conductors and Insulators." If you have two pieces of a material of the same thickness but one is shorter than the other, the shorter one will conduct better because the shorter piece has less resistance, in much the same way that it's easier to force water through a short pipe than a long one. . For example, most ceramics are excellent insulators but if you dope them, you can create a superconductor. Ionic compounds conduct an electric current when melted or dissolved in water. Compounds composed entirely of nonmetals are molecular substances (not ionic). The density of magnesium sulfide is 2.68 g/cm 3; of cerium sulfide it is 5.9 g/cm 3; of fayalite it is 4.3 g/cm 3; and of forsterite it is 3.21 g/cm 3. derftgfhgytfh hjhj huijknmbgvh bhjbbhbhbgghj. (2021, August 3). Ionic compounds conduct electricity when melted or in solution. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Elements that tend to gain electrons to form anions during chemical reactions are called non-metals. For decades, experimenters have searched for such superconductivity by squeezing bits of solid hydrogen between the tips of diamonds. Based on TEM, electron diffraction, and known iron sulfide chemistry . The flow of electricity is called current. If the secondary treatment of liquid metal (the . The strength of a metallic bond depends on three things: A strong metallic bond will be the result of more delocalized electrons, which causes the effective nuclear charge on electrons on the cation to increase, in effect making the size of the cation smaller. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. "Probably nowhere." Semiconductor metals (or metalloids) have a higher number of valence electrons (usually four or more). The ability to conduct electricity is called Conductivity. pyrite, also called iron pyrite or fool's gold, a naturally occurring iron disulfide mineral. Metallic bonds are strong and require a great deal of energy to break, and therefore metals have high melting and boiling points. them. A. As organic matter decays under low-oxygen (or hypoxic) conditions such as in swamps or dead zones of lakes and oceans, sulfate-reducing bacteria reduce various sulfates present in the water, producing hydrogen sulfide. Its resistivity depends upon the temperature, and its conductivity reduces with rising temperature. Why? The sulfur may boil or burn releasing sulfur dioxide which is a TOXICand CORROSIVEgas and may trigger an asthmatic attack. Iron sulfides are often iron-deficient non-stoichiometric. When the researchers replaced the lighter hydrogen atoms with heavier atoms of deuterium (hydrogen with a neutron in its nucleus), the transition temperature fell by about 20%just as expected if phonons provide the glue. Its crystals display isometric symmetry. This experiment can be used as part of a lesson plan for 1114 year olds, using particle models to describe the chemical change that occurs see Reacting iron and sulfur to explore compounds. Will melted ionic compounds conduct electricity? metal. Some good conductors become superconductors at extremely low temperatures. Electrolysis of solutions - Electrolysis - AQA - BBC Bitesize 2023 American Association for the Advancement of Science. Thedemonstration video for iron and sulfur reaction can be found at 7.20 minutes. Let us see whether the conductivity of the iron is also affected by the temperature. Electrons flow through conductors without damaging the atoms or causing wear. The figure below shows three experiments in which two electrodes that are connected to a light bulb are placed in beakers containing three different substances. However, when it melts it undergoes electrolysis. Both of these factors increase the strength of the bond still further. It is a much poorer conductor of heat and electricity than the metals. Each positive center in the diagram represents all the rest of the atom apart from the outer electron, but that electron has not been lost - it may no longer have an attachment to a particular atom, but it's still there in the structure. On melting, the bond is loosened, not broken. . Updates? Elements are further classified into metals, non-metals, and metalloids. The. For example, sodium chloride has a melting temperature of about 800C. The name comes from the Greek word pyr, "fire," because pyrite emits sparks when struck by metal. Ionic compounds are electrolytes that conduct electricity in both aqueous and molten solutions. The resistance of the wire is directly proportional to the temperature and can be reduced by lowering the temperature of the wire. Iron sulfide is the chemical compound FeS, a black solid. Semiconductor metals (or metalloids) have a higher number of valence electrons (usually four or more). Other properties include: Metals are electropositive elements that generally form basic or amphoteric oxides with oxygen. Scientists know of a few kinds of superconductivity. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2020, August 27). They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. As far back as the 1960s, Neil Ashcroft, a theorist at Cornell University, argued that at high pressures, solid hydrogen should become a superconducting metal. Magnesium atoms also have a slightly smaller radius than sodium atoms, and so the delocalized electrons are closer to the nuclei. Accessibility StatementFor more information contact us atinfo@libretexts.org. Most materials are neither good conductors nor good insulators but somewhere in the middle. In the second beaker, solid sodium chloride also does not conduct a current. The valence electrons of copper are easily given away and flow across the length of the conductor but so is not the case in Fe. This website collects cookies to deliver a better user experience. The electrons are said to be delocalized. The resistance of an iron wire is given as R = L/A, where R is resistance, is the resistivity of iron which is equal to 1 10-7 m, L is the length of the wire, and A is the cross-sectional area of the wire. Electrical conductivity is dependent on electron movement because protons and neutrons don't movethey are bound to other protons and neutrons in atomic nuclei. Aside: Metals are not the only materials that conduct But it's far higher than anything ever achieved before and a big step closer to the lofty goal of achieving superconductivity at room temperature. Bond triangles or van ArkelKetelaar triangles (named after Anton Eduard van Arkel and J. The two solids are mixed and heated in a test-tube (or ignition tube). Accessibility StatementFor more information contact us atinfo@libretexts.org. Nonmetals, when reacting with metals, tend to gain electrons (typically. pyrite, also called iron pyrite or fools gold, a naturally occurring iron disulfide mineral. The reaction mustnotbe carried out on tin lids in the open laboratory as is suggested in some sources. Classify substances as elements, compounds, mixtures, metals, non-metals, solids, liquids, gases and solutions. Oxides of metals are characteristically solid at room temp. Pyrite - nature.berkeley.edu Just like magnesium, sulfur is also a non-magnetic material and their bonding does not result in any magnetism. Pyrite | Properties & Facts | Britannica Luster: Silicon for example appears lustrous, but is not malleable or ductile (it is brittle - a characteristic of some nonmetals). This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/science/pyrite, University of Waterloo - Earth Sciences Musuem - Pyrite. All of the 3s orbitals on all of the atoms overlap to give a vast number of molecular orbitals that extend over the whole piece of metal. This general trend is not necessarily observed with the transition metals. The remaining "ions" also have twice the charge (if you are going to use this particular view of the metal bond) and so there will be more attraction between "ions" and "sea". They are good conductors. When solidified, the compound conducts electricity without resistance at 203.5 K. That's still coldabout 70C below the freezing point of water. Some materials in pure form are insulators but will conduct if they are doped with small quantities of another element or if they contain impurities. Being a metal, iron has good properties of a conductor. Use the sea of electrons model to explain why Magnesium has a higher melting point (650 C) than sodium (97.79 C). Melting an ionic compound also frees the ions to conduct a current. The electrical conductivity of iron () is calculated using the formula = 1/; here, is the resistivity. The electrical conductivity of the iron metal is high due to these eight electrons.