What is a thermal conductor?

A thermal conductor is defined as a material that allows heat to flow easily through it. This property arises because materials that are good conductors of heat, such as metals, have free electrons that can move readily and transfer kinetic energy to neighboring atoms. When one part of the conductor is heated, these mobile electrons gain energy and collide with other electrons and atomic nuclei, propagating the heat throughout the material efficiently.

In contrast, insulators are materials that prevent heat flow, which would be represented by another option, while options suggesting that the material only conducts electricity or retains heat energy do not accurately describe the specific function of thermal conductors. The essence of a thermal conductor lies in its ability to facilitate the transfer of thermal energy, distinguishing it clearly from materials that serve different functions or roles in thermodynamics.