Chip varistor

A chip varistor comprising:

• a varistor section comprised of a sintered body containing ZnO as a major component and configured to exhibit the nonlinear voltage-current characteristics;
• a plurality of electroconductive sections comprised of sintered bodies containing ZnO as a major component and arranged with the varistor section in between, each electroconductive section having a first principal surface connected to the varistor section and a second principal surface opposed to the first principal surface;
• and
• a plurality of terminal electrodes connected to the plurality of electroconductive sections,
• wherein each of said terminal electrodes has a first electrode portion connected to the second principal surface, and a second electrode portion connected to the first electrode portion,
• wherein the varistor section includes a first region where at least one element selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, Ag, and Cu exists, and a second region extending between the first principal surfaces of the electroconductive sections and containing no element selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, Ag, and Cu,
• wherein each of said electroconductive sections includes a first region where at least one element selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, Ag, and Cu exists, and a second region extending between the first principal surface and the second principal surface and containing no element selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, Ag, and Cu, and
• wherein the first electrode portion is connected to the second region in the electroconductive section.