Runei
Jun7-11, 07:59 AM
Hey you clever people.
Im getting ready for an exam in physics, and I have a question regarding the free-electron theory of metals, especially conductors.
The questions is actually quite simple: Is the MAJORITY of free electrons in a conductor from the backfilled d orbitals in the metals?
As far as I can remember, the d and f orbitals are being "backfilled" "further in" than than the outer orbitals of s and p.
The s and p orbitals are the orbitals that give rise to the bonding mechanisms. I believe that because of thermal excitation, some of the electrons in the s and p orbitals CAN become part of the conduction band and therefore give rise to a current, but as I understand it, the MAJORITY of the conduction electrons are from the d and f orbitals. I believe this is also the reason that conductors ARE conductors, since they have electrons that have higher energies than the outermost electrons.
Am I completely wrong or do I grasp something correctly?
Cheers
Im getting ready for an exam in physics, and I have a question regarding the free-electron theory of metals, especially conductors.
The questions is actually quite simple: Is the MAJORITY of free electrons in a conductor from the backfilled d orbitals in the metals?
As far as I can remember, the d and f orbitals are being "backfilled" "further in" than than the outer orbitals of s and p.
The s and p orbitals are the orbitals that give rise to the bonding mechanisms. I believe that because of thermal excitation, some of the electrons in the s and p orbitals CAN become part of the conduction band and therefore give rise to a current, but as I understand it, the MAJORITY of the conduction electrons are from the d and f orbitals. I believe this is also the reason that conductors ARE conductors, since they have electrons that have higher energies than the outermost electrons.
Am I completely wrong or do I grasp something correctly?
Cheers