Electrical Properties

Abstract

Matter can be classified according to its “specific” electrical conductivity σ into electrical insulators (σ = 10⁻²²−10⁻¹² ohm⁻¹ cm⁻¹), semiconductors (σ = 10⁻¹²−10³ ohm⁻¹ cm⁻¹), and conductors (σ > 10³ ohm⁻¹ cm⁻¹). The electrical conductivity is the reciprocal of the electrical resistance. Since electrical resistance is measured in ohms, the unit of conductivity is often written as mho instead of ohm⁻¹ in American scientific literature.