What happens to the conductivity of a material as temperature increases for most metals?

As temperature increases for most metals, the conductivity actually decreases due to the increased thermal agitation of the metal's lattice structure. In metals, electrical conductivity is primarily due to the movement of free electrons. When the temperature rises, these electrons gain energy and become more agitated, leading to more frequent collisions with the lattice atoms. This increased collision rate hampers the flow of electrons, which results in a reduction in conductivity.

In contrast, materials such as semiconductors and electrolytes often exhibit increased conductivity with temperature due to enhanced carrier concentration or mobility as they are more significantly affected by thermal effects. Understanding this behavior is crucial for applications involving electronic devices and materials conducting electricity, as it informs decisions regarding their performance under varying temperature conditions.