Question

Which metal is generally used to make the filament of an electric bulb?

Hint:

Bulbs are often filled with inert gases like Argon or Nitrogen to prevent the tungsten filament from oxidizing at high temperatures.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The filament of an incandescent bulb must withstand very high temperatures without melting to emit visible light.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Tungsten is chosen because it has an extremely high melting point (around \(3422^{\circ}\text{C}\)).
It also has high resistivity, meaning it generates a lot of heat when current passes through it, allowing it to become white-hot and emit light.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Tungsten is the metal generally used.