When current flows through a conductor, what is happening at the atomic level?

When current flows through a conductor, it is the movement of electrons that is primarily responsible for the flow of electricity. At the atomic level, electrons, which are negatively charged particles, move through the lattice structure of the conductive material (often metals).

In a neutral atom, electrons occupy specific energy levels or shells around the nucleus. When a voltage is applied, it provides the energy necessary to overcome the forces holding some of these electrons in place. As a result, these free electrons can move from one atom to another, creating an electric current. This flow of electrons constitutes the conventional flow of electrical charge.

The interaction between atoms is largely what allows for current flow, but it is specifically the movement of those electrons from atom to atom that defines electrical conductivity in materials. This is why the identification of electron flow accurately captures the essential process occurring in conductors during current flow.