HCV2 Short Answer Question Pg 119 Q13

The number of electrons in an insulator is of the same order as the no. of electrons in a conductor. What is then the basic difference between a conductor and an insulator?

again this needs an elaborate explanation. A conductor is defined at the material in which current can flow clearly and insulators is a material in which current cannot flow easily. Why this happens?. Conduction in any substance depends upon the number of free charge carriers in the substance. Now in a conductor this happens to the electrons. Some substances that are good conductors have outer most electrons not tightly bound to the nucleus. Under very very little force electrons can be ripped off. For example magnesium is a metal. Principals of chemistry tell u that Mg would like to lose two electrons to gain stable octet configuration. But in a insulator this tendency to lose electrons is very small. For example (carbon as diamond) in which electrons are tightly bound in the tetrahedral arrangement do not leave the configuration.

Therefore even if they contain the same no of electrons the answer boils down to the number of free electrons. The no of free electrons defines a conductor or an insulator

hope this helps
Pinnaka