[Physics] Why the electrical resistance of air is so high

airchargeelectrical-resistanceelectricity

Why the resistance of air is so high?

Its resistivity is approximately $2\times10^{16}\, \mathrm{\Omega\cdot m}$.

Trying to compare that when I placed an electron, one in a copper wire and other in air: the one in air seems to be more 'free' than the one in copper wire. If this is not the case then what are those factors that classify air as insulator?

Best Answer

There are only very few free electrons in air, in stark contrast to the number of free electrons in the wire.

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