Some substances are significantly better than others for carrying electricity. The ability of an element to carry electricity is related to its subatomic structure. Electrons orbit the nucleus in various levels, called shells. An atom that has just one electron in its outer shell can readily give up that electron, which is what’s necessary to carry electricity. These substances are conducive to carrying electricity and thus are said to be conductors. The best conductors are copper, silver, and gold. It’s no coincidence that these three elements are found in the same column of the periodic
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