Which of the following metals has the highest electrical and thermal conductivity?

Option 3 : Silver

The correct answer is Silver.

• Silver is the most electrically conductive metal, as well as having a high thermal conductivity.
• This is due to the fact that silver has just one valence electron.
• Silver is often employed in electrical circuits and contacts because of its high electrical and thermal conductivity and because it does not easily spark.
• It is used in batteries for portable surgical equipment, hearing aids, pacemakers, and space flight when reliability is required and weight limits apply.
• It is good for coating contacts, mirrors, and conductors in telecom applications because it has low contact wear resistance and high optical reflectivity.
• It is nearly white, lustrous, soft, very ductile, and malleable.
• It is not a chemically active metal, but it is attacked by nitric acid (forming the nitrate) and by hot concentrated sulfuric acid.
• It is mostly utilized as a valuable metal, but its halide salts, particularly silver nitrate, are commonly used in photography.

• Tin:
  • Tin is a silvery-white metal that is malleable and pliable.
  • Because it is shielded by an oxide covering, tin is not quickly oxidized and resists corrosion.
  • Tin is resistant to corrosion when exposed to the distilled sea and gentle tap water, but it is vulnerable to strong acids, alkalis, and acid salts.
  • Tin is utilized in the coating of cans, and tin-plated steel containers are commonly used for food storage.
  • The niobium-tin alloy is used for superconducting magnets, tin oxide is used for ceramics and gas sensors.
• Copper:
  • Copper is a reddish metal with a cubic crystalline structure that is face-centered.
  • It is malleable, ductile, and an excellent heat and electricity conductor.
  • It's softer than zinc and can be polished to a gleaming sheen.
  • Copper is a metal with low chemical reactivity.
  • It develops a greenish surface film called patina in damp air, which protects the metal from further oxidation.
  • The majority of copper is used in electrical equipment, roofing, and plumbing, as well as industrial gear such as heat exchangers and alloys.
• Mercury:
  • Mercury is a naturally occurring element that is regarded as a "heavy metal" and is harmful to living creatures.
  • The metal is a good conductor of electricity but not of heat.
  • It is the only metal that can remain liquid at room temperature.