Question

An alloy of any metal with mercury is called amalgam and the electrical conductivity of an alloy is more than that of pure metals.
A.True
B.False

Answer 1

Hint: Electrical conductivity: The property of electrical conductance is shown by the elements or the compounds that have free electrons in them. When current is flown through conductive substances the electrons move in the opposite direction and the conduction of current takes place.

Complete step by step answer:
Now we will define some terms in order to classify the given statement as true or false.
Alloy: They are the elements produced on mixing metals and non-metals. This combination is generated in order to increase the properties of the metals which they are lacking and addition of non-metals provides it to them. Example: addition of gold and silver produces an alloy known as white gold.
Amalgam: Alloy of mercury with metal is known as Amalgam. Amalgam formed can be liquid, solid or in paste form according to the property of mercury. Only the alloys of mercury with metals like tin, zinc, silver, and copper are used as amalgams

Pure metal: They are pure forms of metals, without any external mixture or elements in them.
Now we will compare the electrical property of pure metal and amalgam:
Pure metals conduct electricity due to the presence of free electrons in their valence shell, these electrons move in the opposite direction of the current. Whereas the amalgam has more free electrons as compared to the pure metals as here metals are combined with nonmetals and their conductivity is enhanced due to increased number of free electrons.

Thus, the statement given is false.


Note:
The electrical conductivity of any metal can be decreased with the opposite effect of some other elements such as impurities in the conducting material. As the impurity present creates resistance for the free electrons to move.