Question

Which among the following are the charge carriers in conductors?
A) Electrons
B) Protons
C) Neutrons
D) Holes

Answer 1

Hint: In conductors, some electrons in outer orbit are held lightly by the nucleus and they become free of nuclear interaction with little force.

Complete step by step answer:
There are many objects in our surroundings. We can observe that only few materials conduct electricity, and few do not. Depending upon this character we classify as conductors and insulators. We observe that for wiring purposes we use copper wire and it is covered with insulated material plastic. Here we use copper because as copper is a good conductor of electricity, it is covered with plastic because of our safety. i.e. if we touch the wire also, we do not get shock. If any material is capable of passing electric current, then it is called a conductor otherwise it is insulators. Now, we discuss the property of material which makes it behave as conductor and insulator. Before discussing this, we must understand the structure of atoms. The atom is made of protons, neutrons and electrons. The protons and neutrons are held at the nucleus and electrons are revolving round the nucleus in different orbits. These electrons are responsible for charge transfer. If the number of free electrons is more, then it is a conductor. If electrons are less, then it is an insulator.
For any conductor, when it is said to be neutral it means the number of positive charges equal to the number of negative charges. If it loses any electrons the number of positive charges is more than the number of negative charges. Then in this case positive charges are the majority charge carriers, it is said to be positively charged. If it gains electrons, then the number of electrons become more than the number of positive charges (protons). Now, electrons are the majority charge carriers, hence it is said to be negatively charged. So, we conclude that either it is positively charged or negatively charged, it is due to the transfer of the electrons only not due to transfer of protons.
Hence, in case of conductors, electrons are the charge carriers in case of conductor.

Note:We have to remember that when the conductor is said to be neutral it does not mean that it does not have any positive and negative charges in it. It also contains positive and negative charges, but the number of positive charges equals negative charges, hence it is said to be neutral.