What's the best conductor?

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mdean

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A colleague and I were discussing the other day about what metal is the best conductor. I've always thought silver was the best, and have even had a professor agree with me on this. My colleague insisted that gold was the best conductor. Even though both metals have one valence electron I thought gold was used mainly because it is less corrosive. This person is much wiser(older) than me and it got me wondering who is right.
 
I'm with Larry: These are the conductive properties of different metals in order. For example Aluminum has a conductivity of about 62% of copper.

Silver 1.08
Copper 1.00
Gold 0.725
Aluminum 0.625
 
May of people think that gold is the better conductor then gold because high end RCA connector are coated with gold. But the truth is that gold is used for protection from oxidation and other reaction. Same reason why silver and copper are not used for connector coating. They will oxide and will decrease there conductivity.


copper is the best.
 
This goes back to the old question, "What is the more likely solution?"

Better conductor properties or better insulation properties?

Do we need conductors better than copper and AL?

Are the current insulation materials used today sufficient?
 
The best conductor is obviously a super conductor [= zero resistance].
Since it has to be cooled to some Alaskan frigidity, it is not too practical for most common uses but then neither is siver due to the cost. But the question was asked so I get to come up with the correct answer after 7 replies.
~Peter
 
Between Silver and Gold: One has better bulk resistance, and one has better contact resistance. I think gold has the better contact resistance.

Steve
 
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