What is one characteristic that makes insulators effective?

Insulators are materials that do not easily allow the flow of electric current. One key characteristic that makes insulators effective is having few free electrons. In contrast to conductors, which have many free electrons that can move easily and carry an electric charge, insulators possess tightly bound electrons that do not move freely. This lack of free electrons prevents electric current from passing through the material, thereby providing insulation.

Understanding this characteristic is crucial for applications where preventing electrical flow is necessary, such as in wiring and electronic components. The effectiveness of insulators is primarily due to their atomic structure, which lacks the free charge carriers needed to support conductivity.