The concentration of conductive metals is a factor in the conductivity of a substance. For example, in determining the level of toxic contamination that a heavy metal spill poses, environmental regulators measure the soil for levels of electrical conductivity. If there is a high presence of metal contamination, the soil will show an abnormally high level of conductivity.
The temperature of the conducting material has an effect on the efficiency of its conductivity. The higher the temperature of metal conductors the poorer it conducts an electrical current. This is caused by gaps that form between metallic molecules as the metal begins to melt, thereby inhibiting the flow of electrons. However, temperature has the opposite effect on the conductivity of water. As water heats, the better it conducts electricity. This is because ions contained in the water assist in the flow of electrons and as the water temperature rises, these ions move more freely through the liquid.
Ions are molecules where the number of electrons are not equal to the number of protons in its atomic structure. This creates a positive or negative magnetic attraction to the substance. The presence of ions in water aids its conductivity. If a water based solution has a high concentration of ions, then it will be a more capable conductor of electricity than pure water.
Organic materials such as soil, wood or non-ferrous stone, does not conduct electricity well due to their high concentrations of carbon. Therefore, metals or water solutions contaminated with carbon material will be poorer conductors of electricity.