What term describes materials that can easily gain or lose electric charge?

The term that describes materials that can easily gain or lose electric charge is conductors. Conductors are substances that allow electric charges (typically electrons) to flow freely through them. This property is due to the presence of free-moving charge carriers, which are abundant in conductive materials like metals. When a conductive material is exposed to an electric field, its charge carriers can easily respond to that field, resulting in a flow of electric current.

In contrast, insulators are materials that do not allow electric charges to move freely. They have tightly bound electrons that do not transfer easily, thus preventing the flow of electricity. Semiconductors are materials that have conductivity between that of conductors and insulators. They can conduct electricity under certain conditions, such as when doped with impurities or subjected to specific temperatures. Electrolytes are substances that dissociate into ions in a solution, allowing them to conduct electricity; however, they behave differently compared to solid conductors.

The key differentiator for conductors is their ability to facilitate the flow of electric charge with minimal resistance, making them essential in electrical applications.