The Structure of Metals and its Influence on Metallic Properties

This article briefly reviews the current model of metallic structure. An alternative model of metallic structure is described. Limitations of the “ions in a sea of electrons/delocalized electrons” model are provided and properties of metals which can be accounted for by the alternative soft-sphere model are discussed. Data from this alternative proposed model that are used to calculate densities, lattice energies, work functions, and internuclear distances are shown to give good agreement with observed values.

The majority of elements that naturally occur on earth are metals. With the exception of mercury, all metals are solids at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. Metals are good conductors of heat and electricity and most metals have high densities and are malleable and ductile. Some transition metals are also known to be good heterogenous catalysts. Although it is known that most metals have hexagonal, cubic close packed or body centered cubic structures, metallic structure and properties are not fully understood.