Q: Which one of the following non-metals is NOT a poor conductor of electricity?
(a)Sulphur
(b)Selenium
(c)Bromide
(d)Phosphorus
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Electrical Conductivity of Non-metals — UPSC Prelims Previous Year Questions
1 questions from UPSC CSE Prelims GS Paper 1 on Electrical Conductivity of Non-metals (Science & Technology). Spanning from 2007 to 2007. Practice with show/hide answers and detailed explanations.
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What UPSC Asks About Electrical Conductivity of Non-metals
Although asked only once in 2007, the Electrical Conductivity of Non-metals embodies a favourite UPSC style: spotting the exception. Candidates must remember most non-metals are insulators, graphite being the classic conductor due to delocalised π-electrons along its planar layers. Recent discoveries such as graphene, doped polymers and liquid crystalline cellulose may also pique examiner curiosity, especially amid Make-in-India electronics narratives. Understanding band theory, temperature dependence of semiconductor silicon and germanium, and how doping transforms them from intrinsic to extrinsic conductors builds conceptual clarity. Comparative resistivity ordering, practical applications (pencil lead, touch screens, solar cells) and environmental impacts of rare-earth extraction can be handy for elimination-based MCQs.
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All Electrical Conductivity of Non-metals Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Apart from graphite, which non-metal has intrinsic good conductivity important for UPSC?▼
Graphene—a single-atom-thick layer of carbon—exhibits exceptional conductivity and is increasingly cited in textbooks, making it a plausible UPSC distractor.
Will memorising exact resistivity values help?▼
Not necessary. Knowing the relative ordering (silver < copper < aluminium < graphite < glass) and that non-metals generally have high resistivity is sufficient.