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2. Metal Packing: Layers

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    4089
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    MEorangesquare.gif
    Figure ME2.6. Packing efficiency has an influence on the strength of interactions between metal nuclei and the electrons in the "electron sea."

    For comparison, maybe there is another set of atoms, also in a simple square layer. Suppose they are well-separated from each other; maybe they are far enough apart that you could fit an extra atom between each pair if you wanted to. If the free electron is in the same place -- the middle of the nearest hole -- you can see that it is much farther from the nucleus in this case. The force of attraction is much lower in this case, and the overall energy is not as low.

    • Most metals pack very efficiently together to form a solid.
    • Efficient packing leads to stronger bonding interactions.

    That first case, with atoms packed more tightly together, may be preferable, because of the stronger interaction between the metal nucleus and the free electron. For reasons like this, understanding the packing efficiency in a crystal can be very important.


    This page titled 2. Metal Packing: Layers is shared under a CC BY-NC 3.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Chris Schaller.

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