A copper wire can be bent repeatedly while it continues to conduct electric current
CHEMISTRY · Single correct · A Level · Chemistry · Bonding · Bonding
Problem
A copper wire can be bent repeatedly while it continues to conduct electric current. Which of the following statements most accurately explains this observation?
(a) Bending the wire lowers the energy gap between copper’s valence and conduction bands, temporarily increasing the number of charge carriers.
(b) The covalent bonds between copper atoms reform instantly after the wire is bent, restoring pathways for electron transfer.
(c) Electrons in copper are free to move throughout the lattice, so shifting the positions of the copper nuclei does not significantly hinder electron flow.
(d) Mechanical deformation forces additional copper atoms into interstitial sites, creating more mobile charge carriers that compensate for disrupted pathways.