Features of the structure of the atoms of metals

The table of chemical elements contains the names and characteristics of one hundred and five different substances. Most of them are metals. These chemical elements are quite widespread on our planet. Metals can be found in various compounds in the atmosphere and in the bowels of the earth, in living organisms and plants, as well as in the waters of the oceans, the seas of lakes and rivers. The properties of these chemical elements are very specific. Their characteristics have pronounced differences from the substances of other groups. So, if an element belongs to the category of metal, then it must necessarily have a certain list of properties:

- the presence of a dense crystalline structure;
- pronounced shine;
- ability to conduct electrical conductivity;
- high degree of thermal conductivity;
- reduced ability to conduct electricity with increasing thermal conditions;
- easy recoil of electrons;
- ductility, as well as ductility;
- the ability to form various alloys.

The structure of metals, which is determined by the modern scientific worldview, is a crystal lattice. It is based on free electrons and ions that have a positive charge. The crystal itself is represented in the form of a lattice having a spatial structure. The nodes of this system are occupied by ions, and between them are electrons having a high ability to move. The structure of metal atoms allows active particles to move constantly. Electrons make transitions between atoms, and also rotate around their nuclei. Knowing the peculiarities of the structure of the atoms of metals, one can easily explain the occurrence of an electric current in them. It appears under the influence of a potential difference, when electrons that do not have bonds with ions, begin to be ordered in one direction.

The peculiarities of the structure of the metal atoms cause the high thermal conductivity of these elements. Electrons that make continuous motion, exchange energy with ions at the time of the collision with the latter. Elements located at the nodes of the crystal lattice transmit oscillations to neighboring particles, those that follow, and so on. As a result of this process, the thermal regime of the metal is balanced. As a result, the temperature of the whole mass becomes the same.

The peculiarities of the structure of metal atoms are the existence of covalent bonds between them. In the crystal lattice there is also the force of the coulomb, which attracts electrons and ions. This is the metal bond that exists between the particles of the element. This type of compound is present even in the presence of the liquid state of the substance. Proceeding from this, it can be concluded that not individual particles possess a metallic bond. It is owned by their aggregates.

From the point of view of chemistry, the peculiarities of the structure of the atoms of metals consist in the unimpeded return of the valence electrons and the transition to ions. Because of this, the substance itself serves as an energy reducing agent. The ability to give away their electrons from different metals finds their manifestation in varying degrees. The easier this process takes place, the more active the element is. At the same time, its interaction with other substances occurs as energetically as possible. There are a number of strains, which were experimentally compiled by Beketov, a Russian chemist. Metals in this list are in a certain sequence, which characterizes the decrease in their chemical ability to activity. Based on a number of stresses, you can determine the properties of the element:

- when the electrode potential of a metal decreases, its reducing function increases;
- metals are able to displace from the salt solutions those elements that are located after them in a series of stresses;
- metals, located in the list of activities to the left of hydrogen, can displace it from acid solutions.