Question

The best conductor of heat among liquids is?
1. Alcohol
2. Ether
3. Mercury
4. Water

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 3 : Mercury

The correct answer is Mercury.

• The best conductor of heat among liquids is Mercury.
• Mercury
  • Symbol- Hg
  • The Greek name of mercury is hydrargyrum from where its symbol is taken.
  • Atomic number: 80
  • Atomic mass: 200 u
  • Melting point: -38 °C
  • Boiling point: 356.7 °C
  • It is the only metal element to exist in the liquid state at room temperature i.e. in the range 20 to 25 °C 
  • It is also called liquid silver.
  • It is used in thermometers because it can record the slightest change in temperature.

• Solids are generally very good conductors of heat.
• Silver and copper are excellent conductors of both heat and electricity.
• Alcohol is a class of organic compounds in which one or more hydroxyl (-OH) groups attached to a carbon atom of an alkyl group (hydrocarbon chain).
  • Alcohol is a bad conductor of heat and electricity as it does not ionize.
  • Alcohol doesn't have free moving ions.
• Ether is a class of organic compounds in which an oxygen atom is bonded to two alkyl or aryl groups.
• Thermal conductivity is defined as the amount of heat per unit time per unit area that can be conducted through a plate of unit thickness of a given material, the faces of the plate differing by one unit of temperature.
• It is denoted by k, λ, or κ.
• It is quantified using the International Systems of Unit (SI unit) of \( W/m•K\) (Watts per meter per degree Kelvin).

Fluid	Thermal Conductivity (W/m K)
Chloroform	0.129
Diesel oil	0.13
Acetic acid	0.193
Acetone	0.180
Alcohol, ethyl (ethanol)	0.171
Alcohol, methyl (methanol)	0.204
Ammonia, saturated	0.507
Benzene	0.167
Petroleum	0.159
Water, Fresh	0.609
Mercury	8.4
Ether	0.130