What are elements called that have atoms with electrons that are easily freed?
 In a conductor, electric current can flow freely, in an insulator it cannot. Metals such as copper typify conductors, while most non-metallic solids are said to be good insulators, having extremely high resistance to the flow of charge through them. "Conductor" implies that the outer electrons of the atoms are loosely bound and free to move through the material. Most atoms hold on to their electrons tightly and are insulators. In copper, the valence electrons are essentially free and strongly repel each other. Any external influence which moves one of them will cause a repulsion of other electrons which propagates, "domino fashion" through the conductor. Show Simply stated, most metals are good electrical conductors, most nonmetals are not. Metals are also generally good heat conductors while nonmetals are not. IndexAll matter consists of tiny pieces of stuff called atoms. The different kinds of atoms are called elements, and are listed in a pictorial display called the periodic table of elements. Most people are familiar with the names of elements such as oxygen, nitrogen, iron, gold, and hydrogen. Atoms of all elements are made up of three basic building blocks, protons, neutrons, and electrons.
Protons are positively charged particles, neutrons are uncharged particles, and both are heavy in the subatomic scheme of things. Electrons are negatively charged particles, and are relatively light compared to protons and neutrons. Hydrogen is the simplest of the elements; a hydrogen atom consists of one proton and one electron. The structure of a hydrogen atom can be thought of as like the earth and its moon. In the center is the large heavy earth, and around it orbits the smaller moon. Similarly, a heavy proton sits at the center of the hydrogen atom, while the electron orbits the proton with great speed. All other elements have the same basic structure: protons and neutrons at the center, and electrons orbiting around. The number of protons in an atom determines what kind of element the atom is, and it is expected that an atom will have the same number of electrons as protons in order to balance the atom's charge. Helium, for instance, has two protons and two electrons.
An atom will keep its protons and neutrons to itself. Atoms will, however, share electrons. Atoms typically like to keep a neutral charge, so if they borrow an electron from one atom, they tend to share one out with another atom. Atoms will share electrons with other atoms to form bonds, creating molecules and compounds, solids and gasses - in short, all matter. In addition, large numbers of adjacent atoms can share electrons in a long chain, from one atom to the next to the next, and so forth, creating a flow of electrons. This flow of electrons is what we call electricity. So, all matter has electrons, ready to flow, yet electricity is not randomly buzzing everywhere, zapping stuff. This is because a balance between electric forces, and resistance to electron flow, are maintained in matter most of the time. In order for electrons to flow, the electric forces must overcome the resistance to electron flow. When the balance tips, either with greater electric forces, or with lower resistance to electron flow, electricity is created. The balance between force and resistance will be quantified in the section on electric circuits. To conclude the discussion of atomic structure, let us consider the materials in which electrons flow. We can classify matter into three categories with regard to electron flow, conductors, insulators, and semi-conductors. Conductors are materials that conduct electricity easily. Very little electric force is required to cause electron flow in conductors. This is due to electrons called "free electrons", which exist in the atoms of conductors. "Free electrons" are electrons that are very weakly bonded to the atom. With very little force, they can be traded to other atoms, or flow to create electricity. Metals such as copper, silver, and gold are good conductors. Insulators are quite selfish about sharing their electrons. They have no free electrons, and it takes a great deal of electric force to get the electrons of an insulator to flow. The flow of electrons in an insulator is relatively uncommon, and when it does occur it tends to be accompanied by intense heat, loud noise, melting or explosions, smoke and/or flame. Materials such as rubber and glass are good insulators. Semi-conductors are insulators that lack commitment. The atoms of a semi-conductor have no free electrons; however, they do have an electron that is bonded rather loosely and can be shared with the application of a moderate electric force. Semi-conductors can conduct electricity at a certain level without being damaged; however, semi-conductors can be damaged with too much electric force. Silicon is the most common semi-conductor. Good insulators, conductors, and semi-conductors are usually refined materials. What is it called when an electron is freed from an atom?Figure 1. Simplified ionization process where an electron is removed from an atom.
What are atoms that do not have free electrons easily called?Insulators are materials that have just the opposite effect on the flow of electrons that conductors do. They do not let electrons flow very easily from one atom to another. Insulators are materials whose atoms have tightly bound electrons.
What are free electrons called?Free electrons are also called conduction electrons as they conduct electricity.
What do you call the materials through which electricity passes easily?Materials that allow electricity to pass through them are called conductors. Copper wire is a good conductor. Materials that do not allow electricity to pass through them are called insulators. Plastic is a good insulator.
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