Why are non-metals bad conductors of electricity?

Y'know, I've heard that salt water is an excellent conductor of electricity. On the other hand, lead is a worse conductor than graphite. To get good answers, it helps to ask good questions. I think the question you should have asked is “Why are many of the most electrically conductive materials metals?”. read more

Thats why, most non-metals are poor conductors of electricity(i.e. due to a deficiency of free electrons). Graphite(carbon) is an exception in this case but thats a different topic and more related to chemistry than physics. read more

So we came to know why metals are good conductors now the answer for your question is just converse of this. That means all non metals won't have those FREE ELECTRONS or INTER MOLECULAR VIBRATIONS which make them bad conductors. Best example is Wood. read more