The atoms present in metals are tightly packed, but the electrons present in the atom can move freely. How?
Answers
Answer:
Many of the unique properties of metals can be explained by metallic bonds. ... The electrons then move freely throughout the space between the atomic nuclei.
Answer:
Learning Objective
Describe the electron sea model of metallic bonding.
Key Points
Many of the unique properties of metals can be explained by metallic bonds.
Metallic bonds can occur between different elements to form an alloy.
In contrast to electrons that participate in both ionic and covalent bonds, electrons that participate in metallic bonds delocalize, forming a sea of electrons around the positive nuclei of metals. The availability of “free” electrons contributes to metals being excellent conductors.
Terms
electron seaThe body of delocalized electrons that surrounds positive metal ions in metallic bonds.
metallic bondA chemical bond in which mobile electrons are shared over many nuclei; this leads to electrical conduction.
Metallic Bonding
Metallic bonding may be described as the sharing of free electrons among a lattice of positively charged metal ions. The structure of metallic bonds is very different from that of covalent and ionic bonds. While ionic bonds join metals to nonmetals, and covalent bonds join nonmetals to nonmetals, metallic bonds are responsible for the bonding between metal atoms.
In metallic bonds, the valence electrons from the s and p orbitals of the interacting metal atoms delocalize. That is to say, instead of orbiting their respective metal atoms, they form a “sea” of electrons that surrounds the positively charged atomic nuclei of the interacting metal ions. The electrons then move freely throughout the space between the atomic nuclei.
Metallic Bonding: The Electron Sea ModelPositive atomic nuclei surrounded by a sea of delocalized electrons (the blue dots).
The characteristics of metallic bonds explain a number of the unique properties of metals:
Metals are good conductors of electricity because the electrons in the electron sea are free to flow and carry electric current.
Metals are ductile and malleable because local bonds can be easily broken and reformed.
Metals are shiny. Light cannot penetrate their surface; the photons simply reflect off the metal surface. However, there is an upper limit to the frequency of light at which the photons are reflected.
Metallic bonds can occur between different elements, forming an alloy. Aluminum foil and copper wire are examples of metallic bonding in action .
Aluminum foilA sheet of aluminum foil is made up of metallic bonds.
Metallic bonds are mediated by strong attractive forces. This property contributes to the low volatility, high melting and boiling points, and high density of most metals. The group-XII metals zinc, cadmium, and mercury are exceptions to this rule.
Explanation: