Question

Which of the following examples is a poor conductor of electricity?
A. Oxygen
B. Aluminium
C. Gold
D. Silver

Answer 1

Hint: Materials that allow electricity to flow through them easily are defined as electrical conductor. Metals conduct electricity, whereas nonmetals are poor conductors.

Complete step by step answer:
Metals are normally good conductors of heat and electricity, while nonmetals are insulators. The property of conductors allows them to conduct electricity is called conductivity. Electric current is the flow of electrons in a conductor and the force required to make current flow through the conductor is known as voltage.
Metals conduct electricity because of the presence of electrons which are free to move. Due to this the electrons offer less resistance to the flow of current. The best conductors of electricity are silver and copper. Also, in metals, attraction of the nucleus on the valence electrons is minimum. Hence, these electrons can move freely. In case of non-metals they are not dense enough and do not have sufficient free electrons to pass electricity efficiently. In non-metals, electrons are held tightly, they are not allowed to move freely. Therefore, they are poor conductors.
Since, oxygen is a non-metal it does not have sufficient free electrons to pass electricity. These electrons are held tightly, they are not allowed to move freely.

So, the correct answer is Option A.

Note: Metalloids are elements on both sides of the zigzag line in the periodic table. They show physical and chemical properties of both metals and nonmetals.
Metals exhibit some property like ductility, malleability, and they are sonorous and lustrous. Ductility is the property with which metal can be stretched into wires. Malleability is the property by which they can be drawn into sheets. Metals are hard. The two exceptions are Sodium and potassium, they are soft. They can be cut using a knife.