Are there any trends for electrical conductivity?


> 
> Which element has the greatest electrical conductivity?  
> 
> *(A)* $\ce{As}$
> *(B)* $\ce{Ge}$
> *(C)* $\ce{P}$
> *(D)* $\ce{Sn}$ 
> 
> 
> 


I am unsure of how to approach this problem. Is there some sort of trend for electrical conductivity or some other method to determine which of these answers the question? 


I am pretty sure it is not $\ce{Ge}$ as that is used for semi-conductors, and am pretty sure it is not $\ce{P}$ because that is a non-metal but I don't know how to narrow down between the others.





> 
> I am unsure of how to approach this problem.
> 
> 
> 


No, you are not! You have already reduced the number of candidates by good reasoning!


At this point, one 


* *could* have a look at conductivity tables or remember in which period the metal blocks start for every main group or
* **remember typical electricity-related uses of $\ce{As}$ and $\ce{Sn}$**


Did you ever form a conducting connection between electronic components (or just some wires) by *soldering*? $\Leftarrow$


(Do you recall that $\ce{GaAs}$ is used as a semiconductor material in thin film solar cells?)


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