Читать книгу Geology For Dummies - Alecia M. Spooner - Страница 83

Metallic bonds occur between atoms that have very few electrons in their outermost electron shells. Instead of donating or sharing these electrons, the electrons are released from the orbital shell and available for a nearby cluster of atoms to use. Some scientists describe the metallically bonded atoms as floating in a sea of electrons because the electrons are not specifically attached to the orbital shell of any atom in particular. The electrons in a metallic bond move freely from one atom to another. This idea is illustrated in Figure 5-6.

FIGURE 5-5: Covalent bonding in a water molecule.

FIGURE 5-6: Metallic bonding between atoms in a sea of electrons.

The unique nature of metallic bonds is what gives metals such as gold or silver their unique characteristics. The ability to conduct electrical current is a result of the movement of electrons. The shiny, or metallic appearance is due to the large number of freely floating electrons. And the fact that metals can be bent and molded without breaking is also a result of the movement of electrons between atoms in the metallic bond.