Which metal has zero resistance?
2 Answers
The metal that has zero resistance is a **superconductor**. Superconductors are materials that, when cooled below a certain critical temperature, exhibit zero electrical resistance. This means they can conduct electricity indefinitely without losing energy to heat.
However, it's important to note that no ordinary metal has zero resistance at room temperature. Metals like **niobium**, **lead**, and **mercury** become superconductors at very low temperatures (usually near absolute zero, around -273°C or 0 K).
In summary, a metal can have zero resistance only in its superconducting state, and this requires extremely low temperatures.
However, it's important to note that no ordinary metal has zero resistance at room temperature. Metals like **niobium**, **lead**, and **mercury** become superconductors at very low temperatures (usually near absolute zero, around -273°C or 0 K).
In summary, a metal can have zero resistance only in its superconducting state, and this requires extremely low temperatures.
The metal that exhibits zero electrical resistance is **mercury** when it is cooled to extremely low temperatures. However, it’s important to note that mercury itself does not inherently have zero resistance at all temperatures.
**Mercury** becomes a superconductor below its critical temperature of approximately 4.2 Kelvin (-268.95°C or -452.11°F). At temperatures below this threshold, mercury's electrical resistance drops to zero, which is a characteristic of superconductivity. Superconductivity is a quantum mechanical phenomenon where a material conducts electricity without any loss of energy due to resistance.
For a broader context, **superconductors** are materials that can exhibit zero electrical resistance and perfect diamagnetism when cooled below a certain critical temperature. While mercury is one example, there are other materials that also become superconductors, such as:
1. **Lead (Pb)**: Superconducting below about 7.2 Kelvin (-265.95°C or -446.71°F).
2. **Yttrium Barium Copper Oxide (YBCO)**: A high-temperature superconductor that becomes superconducting below about 92 Kelvin (-181.15°C or -294.07°F).
So, while no metal has zero resistance at room temperature, some metals and compounds can achieve zero resistance at extremely low temperatures through the phenomenon of superconductivity.
**Mercury** becomes a superconductor below its critical temperature of approximately 4.2 Kelvin (-268.95°C or -452.11°F). At temperatures below this threshold, mercury's electrical resistance drops to zero, which is a characteristic of superconductivity. Superconductivity is a quantum mechanical phenomenon where a material conducts electricity without any loss of energy due to resistance.
For a broader context, **superconductors** are materials that can exhibit zero electrical resistance and perfect diamagnetism when cooled below a certain critical temperature. While mercury is one example, there are other materials that also become superconductors, such as:
1. **Lead (Pb)**: Superconducting below about 7.2 Kelvin (-265.95°C or -446.71°F).
2. **Yttrium Barium Copper Oxide (YBCO)**: A high-temperature superconductor that becomes superconducting below about 92 Kelvin (-181.15°C or -294.07°F).
So, while no metal has zero resistance at room temperature, some metals and compounds can achieve zero resistance at extremely low temperatures through the phenomenon of superconductivity.