Metalic Conduction:
Metallic conduction is a type of electronic conduction that occurs in metals. In metals, the outermost electrons of atoms are not tightly bound to any particular atom, but instead form a "sea" of free electrons that can move throughout the metal. These free electrons are responsible for metallic conduction, and their movement creates an electric current when a voltage is applied to the metal.
One of the key characteristics of metallic conduction is that the conductivity of the metal does not depend on the presence of impurities or defects in the material. This is because the free electrons in a metal are not localized to specific atoms or regions, but are distributed throughout the entire material. This results in a very high conductivity in metals, which makes them useful in electrical wiring and other applications where efficient electrical conductivity is required.
The conductivity of metals can be affected by the temperature, as the temperature increases the number of free electrons increases and the resistance of the metal decreases. The presence of a magnetic field can also affect conductivity by altering the paths of moving electrons.
It is worth noting that the conductivity of metals can be affected by the presence of other elements in the metal, for example in alloys, which are mixture of two or more metals. The presence of other elements can affect the number of free electrons available for conduction, and thus the conductivity of the alloy.
Electronic conduction is a fundamental property of materials that plays an important role in many electronic devices, including transistors, diodes, and solar cells.
In summary, electronic conduction refers to the flow of electric charge through a material. It depends on the electronic structure of the material, the presence of impurities, and the mobility of electrons. Understanding electronic conduction is crucial for the design and development of electronic devices.
Electrolytic Conduction:
Electrolytic conduction refers to the flow of electric charge through a liquid or a solid electrolyte. It occurs when ions in the electrolyte are able to move freely and carry an electric current.
In electrolytic conduction, the charge carriers are ions, which are atoms or molecules that have gained or lost electrons. These ions are typically created by the dissociation of ionic compounds, such as salts, in a liquid electrolyte. The movement of ions in response to an electric field creates an electric current.
Electrolytic conduction is an important mechanism in various applications such as batteries, electroplating, and electrochemical cells. In batteries, for example, the electrolyte allows ions to flow between the anode and cathode, creating a current that can be used to power a device. In electroplating, an electric current is used to deposit a thin layer of metal on a surface by means of electrolytic conduction.
The conductivity of an electrolyte depends on the concentration of ions in the material, the type of ions and the nature of the crystal structure. It is generally lower than electronic conduction in metals or semiconductors.
It's important to note that there's also another type of conduction called galvanic conduction, which is related to electrolytic conduction, but it refers to the flow of electric charge between two different metals (or electrodes) submerged in an electrolyte solution. This type of conduction is responsible for the production of electricity in galvanic cells.
Difference between electronic conduction and Ionic Conduction
Electronic conduction and ionic conduction are two different types of conduction that occur in different types of materials.
Electronic conduction refers to the flow of electric charge through a material due to the movement of free electrons. This type of conduction occurs in metals and semiconductors, where the outermost electrons are not tightly bound to atoms and can move freely throughout the material.
Ionic conduction, on the other hand, refers to the flow of electric charge through a material due to the movement of ions. Ionic conduction typically occurs in ionic compounds, such as salts, and in solid electrolytes. In these materials, the outermost electrons of atoms are tightly bound and not available to participate in conduction. Instead, conduction occurs via the movement of ions, which are atoms or molecules that have gained or lost electrons.
The key difference between these two types of conduction is the type of charge carrier that is responsible for the flow of electrical current. In electronic conduction, the charge carrier is a free electron, while in ionic conduction, the charge carrier is an ion. Due to this difference, electronic conduction is typically faster and more efficient than ionic conduction.
The properties of electronic and ionic conduction are also different, for example, electronic conduction is affected by temperature, impurities and the presence of a magnetic field, while ionic conduction is affected by the concentration of ions in the material, the type of ions and the nature of the crystal structure.
In short, electronic conduction occurs in materials where electrons are free to move, such as metals and semiconductors, while ionic conduction occurs in materials where ions are free to move, such as in electrolytes and ionic compounds.
Types of Electronic Conduction :
There are several types of electronic conduction, including:
- Metallic conduction: This type of conduction occurs in metals, where the outermost electrons are not tightly bound to atoms and can move freely throughout the material. Metallic conduction is responsible for the high electrical conductivity of metals.
- Semiconductor conduction: This type of conduction occurs in semiconductors, such as silicon and germanium. Semiconductors have a limited number of free electrons available for conduction, but by introducing impurities, known as dopants, into the semiconductor crystal, it is possible to increase the number of free electrons, making the material more conductive. This process is known as doping.
- Thermionic conduction: This type of conduction occurs when a voltage is applied to a material, causing electrons to be emitted from the surface of the material, a process known as thermionic emission. This type of conduction is used in vacuum tubes and some types of electronic devices.
- Field conduction: This type of conduction occurs in dielectrics, where the flow of electric current is caused by the movement of ions under the influence of an electric field. This type of conduction is known as field conduction.
- Tunneling conduction: This type of conduction occurs when electrons can "tunnel" through an energy barrier, such as a potential barrier in a semiconductor, despite not having enough energy to overcome the barrier classically. This type of conduction is important in some electronic devices such as tunnel diodes and transistors.
It is worth noting that different type of electronic conduction can occur in the same material depending on the conditions, for example, in metals, depending on the temperature and the presence of impurities, electronic conduction can be dominated by different conduction mechanisms.
Conclusion :
Difference between electronic and ionic (electrolytic) conductivity is that electronic conductance takes place in metals by movement of electrons and electrolytic conductance takes place in solutions by movement of ions.
Difference Between Electronic and Ionic Conduction
