Conductivity

[aclementine]

Which of the following is a poor conductor of electricity?
a) aluminum
b) sodium
c) magnesium
d) calcium
e) phosphorus

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[wantVCUdental]

Which of the following is a poor conductor of electricity?
a) aluminum
b) sodium
c) magnesium
d) calcium
e) phosphorus

Phosphorous
Conductors are usually metals in their molten states, conducting electricity means that the electrons can freely move around. Metals fit that role, because they would rather lose electrons than gain (losing electrons bring them further to their octects) whereas non-metals are highly electronegative, gaining electrons make them closer to octect, so non of the non-metal will let their electrons off and therefore they are poor conductors.

Hope that make sense

 

[aclementine]

Excellent, that's exactly what I thought too. The answer in the book was d) calcium, which I guess is a typo. Thanks!