How does atomic structure affect electrical conductivity?

Stronger intermolecular forces are found in atoms with fewer electronic shells; these atoms are either insulators or less willing to share or transfer electrons, making them poor conductors of electricity. This link leads to a website that I used to help me with my response.

The atomic structure affects electrical conductivity through the arrangement of atoms, specifically the presence of free electrons in the outermost energy level of atoms or ions. Materials with loosely bound electrons, such as metals, conduct electricity well because these electrons can move freely in response to an electric field. In contrast, materials with tightly bound electrons, such as insulators, do not conduct electricity efficiently because the electrons are not free to move. Semiconductors fall in between, with electrical conductivity that can be modified by factors like temperature or impurities.