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Metallic Sea of Electrons

Electrons are not bonded to any particular atom and are free to move about in the solid.

  • High electrical conductivity

  • High thermal conductivity

  • High reflectivity of visible light

  • Metals can be regarded as an array of positive ions in a sea of electrons.

  • This theory explains the high electrical and thermal conductivity of metals as being due to the easy movement of the electrons over the bulk solid.

  • The high reflectivity of visible light is due to the strong absorption of visible light followed by its nearly complete re-emission. This results from the high concentration of mobile electrons, which oscillate at the frequency of the incoming light and re-emit the light.