What specific property of metals accounts for their unusual electrical conductivity?

Question

Ellie Andrews · Accepted Answer

To explain conductivity in metals, you need to explore "band theory". I will give a brief account (and a good reference) below.

Because metal atoms typically have fewer valence electrons than valence orbitals—that is, there are empty orbitals in the valence shell—metals are conductivity-related due to their electron configuration. In a solid crystal of #N# metal atoms, these half-filled orbitals and empty orbitals overlap to create a network of #N# interconnected orbitals. The exclusion principle still requires that all these orbitals have slightly different energies. As a result the orbitals change slightly to become a group of #N# molecular orbitals that have very similar energies. Since the orbitals are so close in energy, we think of them as a continuous band of energy levels. Because there were more orbitals than valence electrons, this leads to a situation where valence electrons occupy part of these orbitals, but there will also be a band of empty orbitals at nearby energies. The valence electrons will be able to move freely among the numerous empty orbitals that connect the metal atoms; all that is needed is a small energy application, such as a voltage applied to the crystal to cause the electrons to jump into one of the orbitals in the empty orbitals. Our electrical conductivity is now present. Here's a link that I believe provides a clear explanation of this subject: \batista/vaa/band.html at https://tutor.hix.ai

Peyton Adams · Answer

undefined The presence of free electrons in the metallic structure of metals is the unique characteristic that explains their exceptional electrical conductivity.