Washington Esthetician State Board Practice Exam

What characteristic makes copper suitable for conducting electricity?

1. It is a good insulator

2. It is a specialized compound

3. It is a particularly good conductor

4. It has high resistance

The correct answer is: It is a particularly good conductor

Copper's suitability for conducting electricity primarily stems from its exceptional conductive properties. As a metal, copper possesses free electrons that facilitate the easy flow of electric current. This characteristic is what classifies it as a good conductor. The other options highlight attributes that do not apply to copper when considering electrical conductivity. For example, being a good insulator contradicts copper’s role in conducting electricity, as insulators resist the flow of electrical current. Saying it is a specialized compound misrepresents copper, as it is a pure element with well-known conductive properties rather than a compound made of other elements. Lastly, high resistance implies that a material impedes the flow of electricity, which directly opposes the defining feature of copper as an effective conductor. Hence, copper's high conductivity is why it is widely used in electrical wiring and components.