Why do some materials conduct heat better than others?
Quick Answer
Heat conduction depends on how easily energy can move through a material’s particles or electrons. Metals conduct heat well because free electrons carry energy efficiently.
The Full Story
In solids, heat is transferred by vibrations of atoms and, in metals, by mobile electrons. Materials with tightly bonded lattices and many free electrons tend to conduct heat well. That is why a metal spoon heats up quickly in hot soup, while wood or plastic stays cooler in your hand. Diamond is an excellent heat conductor even though it is not a metal, because of its very stiff crystal structure. Insulators work by making energy transfer much slower.
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