Silver is the best conductor of electricity of all the elements on Earth.

Electrical conductivity is measured by how well a material lets an electric current pass through it. Silver has a conductivity rating of about 63 million Siemens per meter. This is about 7% higher than copper, which is the second best conductor.The reason silver works so well is its single outer electron. In metals, these outer electrons move freely like a sea of particles. Silver's crystal structure allows these electrons to flow with less interference than any other metal. This means less energy is lost as heat when electricity moves through it.Silver also has the highest thermal conductivity, meaning it moves heat better than other metals. Even though it is the best conductor, we do not use it for house wires because it is too expensive. Silver also tarnishes when it touches air, which can eventually slow down the flow of electricity.During World War II, the United States used silver in a unique way. The government needed copper for bullets, so they borrowed 14,700 tons of silver from the Treasury. They used this silver to build massive electromagnets for the Manhattan Project. After the war, the silver was returned and melted back into bars.Today, silver is used in high-end electronics and solar panels. Engineers use silver paste to catch the electricity made when sunlight hits a solar cell. It is also used in satellites where every bit of energy efficiency is important.