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Quantifying Electrical Character

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Peter G. Nelson

University of Hull, School of Chemistry, Hull HU6 7RX, UNITED KINGDOM

J. Chem. Educ., 1997, 74 (9), p 1084

DOI: 10.1021/ed074p1084

Publication Date (Web): September 1, 1997

Section:

History, Education, and Documentation

Abstract

A scheme is proposed for quantifying the electrical character of substances. The mode of conduction of electricity by a substance is characterized by the degree of electrolysis of ionic transport number, t. For metals and semiconductors t=0, for electrolytes, t=1. For mixed conductors a mean value is used over the range for 25 °C to the liquid at the melting point.

The conductivity of a substance is characterized by a simple function (c) of sigmaÂ°e, its conductivity by an electronic mechanism at 25 °C, and sigma Â°Â°i, its conductivity by an ionic mechanism in the liquid state at the melting point. The function puts sigmaÂ°e and sigma Â°Â°i on to a logarithmic scale, and weights them according to 1-t(bar) and t(bar). The volume conductivity is used. All data are at standard pressure and low electric field strength.

The indices t(bar) and c enable a triangular classification of substances to be produced, with three limiting types (metals, electrolytes, and insulators), and three intermediate types (semiconductors, semielectrolytes, and mixed conductors). This classification has a stronger experimental basis than classification according to bond type. Values of t(bar) and c are given for a range of substances.

Keywords (Audience):

Upper-Division Undergraduate

Keywords (Domain):

Inorganic Chemistry

Keywords (Subject):

Conductivity

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This article has been cited by 2 ACS Journal articles (2 most recent appear below).

Quantifying Molecular Character
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- Quantifying Molecular Character
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  Journal of Chemical Education2000 77 (2), 245
  Wells and Jensen's classification of substances according to structure type is quantified, enabling substances having an intermediate structure to be classified precisely. Jensen's concept of the "degree of nonmolecularity" of a substance and the opposite ...
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Logic, History, and the Chemistry Textbook: II. Can We Unmuddle the Chemistry Textbook?
William B. Jensen
Journal of Chemical Education1998 75 (7), 817
- Logic, History, and the Chemistry Textbook: II. Can We Unmuddle the Chemistry Textbook?
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  Journal of Chemical Education1998 75 (7), 817
  The second of a three-part series based on the author's keynote lectures for the 1995 NEACT conference, this lecture applies the classification of chemical concepts and models given in Lecture I to a variety of topics related to the undergraduate ...
  Abstract | Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links