Valence electrons in a Metallic Solid
- The atoms in a metallic solid are arranged together in metallic lattices
- Since the atoms are tightly packed together, they lose valence electrons and become positive ions
- Therefore, electrons are free to move throughout the structure
- The free-moving electron are called “delocalized” because they do not correspond to particular atoms anymore
- The metallic solids are held together by the Coulombic forces of attraction between the positively charged metal ions and a sea of delocalized electrons
- The interaction between ions and electrons is named metallic bonding
The Structure of a Metal
The positive metal centers interact with a Coulombic force of attraction with in a ‘sea’ of delocalised electrons