How do electrons move in a solid metal?

Question

I earlier used to think that the atoms of metals and other solids are compactly bound. But the principle of the conduction of electricity through metals by using the so called free electrons has bafflled me. Please explain the nature of their freedom and their movement.

Answer 1

Metals are alligned in such a way that each atom is right next to each other. As each atom has no charge, its electrons can then move about freely, within its orbit. This means that rather then electrons able to move from point A to point B, they could carry the current, or energy, from point a, pass it on to another electron, and so on until it reaches point B. The e- don't physically jump to another atom's orbit. That requires a redox reaction which is quite impossible with the same elements without external "help."

Consider electrons on a atom. they are all gathered on the left side. Energy is added, and the electrons move to the other side. However, as there are also electrons on the other side (from another atom), it loses energy as both it and the other electrons are negative (opposites attract, same oppose) and thus push themselves apart. As the first electron lose all its gained energy, the second electron (from the other atom) uses the freshly gathered energy to move to the other side, and thus the cycle repeats.

Ionic compounds in comparision, though also tightly bonded in a structure, do not have the ability to transfer energy. As a positive is followed by a negative followed by a positive atom (ion), its electrons are not avaliable for transfer of energy, and hence do not conduct current.

Answer 2

Metals are very good conductors of electricity. They can be ionised easily as they have free electrons. The conduction increases with increase in temp and beyond a certain temp the conduction comes down. When the temp increases the electrons gain kinetic energy and move from one orbit / energy level to another. When the temp increases further, the electrons start vibrating in this own energy level instead of moving, thereby bringing down the conduction.

Current in a metal wire

In solid conductive metal, with no external forces applied, there exists a random motion of free electrons created by the thermal energy that the electrons gain from the surrounding medium. When an atom loses a free electron, it acquires a net positive charge. The free electron can move amongst these positive ions, while the positive ions can only oscillate about their mean fixed positions. The free electron is therefore the charge carrier in a typical solid conductor. Given an imaginary plane through which the wire passes, the number of electrons moving from one side to the other in any period of time is exactly equal to the number passing in the opposite direction.

When a wire is connected across the two terminals of a DC voltage source such as a battery, the source places an electric field across the conductor. The moment contact is made, the free electrons of the conductor will drift toward the positive terminal under the influence of this field. For every ampere of current, 1 coulomb of electric charge (which consists of about 6.242 × 1018 electrons) drifts every second at the same velocity through the imaginary plane through which the conductor passes.

The current I in amperes can be calculated with the following equation:

I= Q/t
where

Q : is the electric charge in coulombs (ampere seconds)
t: is the time in seconds
It follows that:
Q= I * t
and t= Q/I

Answer 3

Metals are giant structures of atoms held together by metallic bonds. "Giant" implies that large but variable numbers of atoms are involved - depending on the size of the bit of metal.
It would be misleading to suppose that all the atoms in a piece of metal are arranged in a regular way. Any piece of metal is made up of a large number of "crystal grains", which are regions of perfect regularity. At the grain boundaries atoms have become misaligned.Called delocalization
Metals conduct electricity. The delocalised electrons are free to move throughout the structure in 3-dimensions. They can cross grain boundaries. Even though the pattern may be disrupted at the boundary, as long as atoms are touching each other, the metallic bond is still present.
Liquid metals also conduct electricity, showing that although the metal atoms may be free to move, the delocalisation remains in force until the metal boils.
Metals are good conductors of heat. Heat energy is picked up by the electrons as additional kinetic energy (it makes them move faster). The energy is transferred throughout the rest of the metal by the moving electrons.

Answer 4

Most metals have valence electrons in energetically meta-stable states far from the nucleus that are shielded by electrons in closed inner shells. Even metals that have no electrons in p or f orbitals like Al have these types of electrons in less stable p or s orbitals.

The probability that these electrons are close to the nucleus is MUCH smaller than that of the electrons in closed shells.

Thus when metals atoms bond, they do so through a network of loosely bound heavy nuclei and delocalized valence electrons. Because these electrons are delocalized, it is easy to generate current by heating, exposure to photons in a vacuum, or application of a voltage.

Answer 5

electrons in solid metals they are revolve in their orbits.....
they never leave their orbits unless they jump to higher energy orbit and again back to its original state.... in this process they emit energy in form of packets......... such packets are called photonss............

Free electron means the electron in its outermost shell...
electrons move randomly in metals...........

Suppose electricity is flow Point A to Point B ........... It means the electron in solid atom is moving to Point B to Point A.
Even a best conductor of electricity resist the current to flow in some amount......... this resistence causes increase in temperature of conductor......