Metals Definition and 318 Threads

  1. C

    Free electron concentration range between semiconductors and metals

    A structure with free electron density around 10^26 m^-3 is considered as a highly doped semiconductor or a metal? Or in other words, what is the lowest possible free electron concentration for a metal and what is the highest possible free electron concentration for a doped semiconductor?
  2. J

    Electrical & Thermal Conductivities of Metals

    Hi, please could someone explain why silver is a better conductor than, say, copper. Is it due to the fact that it has more conduction electrons than copper? I can't seem to find a definitive answer online. Thanks for any guidance offered.
  3. S

    What Happens When Sulfur Reacts with Copper and Tin at High Temperatures?

    Dear all I have 250g of Copper 250g of Tin and 250g of Sulfur. Everything is in powdered form. Heated up in closed container wit surrounding nitrogen flow to avoid contact with Oxygen. Heating ramp is 3 hours to 1000K. What reaction will be the leading reaction? How to calculate how fast will...
  4. S

    The Case of Electronic structure of Liquid Metals

    I have been contemplating for a few days now about how one could think about the electronic structure of Liquid metals. The cases of an isolated atom or that of solid metal crystal are well known and easy to understand. Though, a google search reveals (to me) that nothing much has come out for...
  5. S

    Joule Heating of Metals with Different Resistivities

    Hello, I am a high school student carrying out a physics experiment. I created a short circuit in order to see how much heat different types of metals would release when a current is running through them (4.5 A). In my experiment, I tested three different types of metals: Brass, Stainless...
  6. I

    Metals and Conductivity question

    (Heads-up: these might be QM questions) Two questions: 1.) What is it that gives rise to the fact that conductive metals provide a much lower potential for electrons to exist, than in free space? 2.) If conduction in wires take place due to an E-field that "travels" through/along...
  7. T

    Does alkali metals burned at very low temperature in air?

    And does rubidium ignite spontaneity in air...in powder phase or small piece of metal.
  8. H

    Comparing Specific Heat Capacity of Metals A & B in Wax Block

    Homework Statement the answer is c) but i can't figure why ! is the more heat capacity substance lose and gain energy faster than the other one so it take more energy to get it's temperature raised by the same amount because it lose most of it very fast during the heating process ?
  9. HeavyMetal

    Softness of Transition Metals Au, Ag, and Pd

    Is there a direct reason that gold, silver, and palladium are so much softer than the rest of the transition metals? Gold and silver are especially soft. I could not think of any reason myself, or in a quick search of the internet. Everything that I've come up with I've shot down. Thanks in...
  10. 0

    Comparison between metals and semiconductors

    Hey guys I've got an assignment. I need a comparison between a normal conductor and a semiconductor and why a classical understanding isn't enough to explain how an SC works. Also are there any electrical properties of an SC besides decreasing resisitivity at higher temps?
  11. J

    Confusion with free electrons in metals

    Hi, I'm really confused with how electrons become 'free' in a metal. I have a few questions and would be very grateful if someone could shed some light on them. 1. Are the electrons actually free? In a sense that the atom it is attached would essentially become an ion 2. If you take a copper...
  12. Y

    Elastic moduli of metals and polymers

    Why is there such a large difference between the elastic moduli of metals and polymers? Is it because of different bonding? Or something do with the structure? Thank you!
  13. B

    Why does a chemical compound precipitate metals differently than metal

    In a solution of aqua regia (or other acids), if there is a precious metal dissolved, along with other metal ( such as other precious metals or base metals), and you add a powdered metal, you precipitate all the metals lower than it on the reactivity list. If however, you use a chemical...
  14. T

    Is there a circuit for charging metals?

    Without moving macroscopic parts... No van de Graaff generators or piezo-something - just normal circuit that would used a battery at one point and on the other there would be macroscopicly charged electrode. :-)
  15. Y

    Does the reactivity series of metals hold true for organic compounds?

    I've learned that a more active metal displaces a less reactive one. So, according to the reactivity series Ca cannot displace Na but in he reaction given at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soap_scum Na is displaced by Ca. What is the reason for this exception?
  16. T

    What is the flame temperature for burning alkali metals in oxygen

    what is the flame temperature for burning alkali metals in oxygen
  17. C

    Thermal conductivity between sheets of two different metals

    Homework Statement A copper sheet of thickness 2.37mm is bonded to a Aluminum sheet of thickness 1.29mm. The outside surface of the copper sheet is held at a temperature of 100.0°C and the Aluminum sheet at 24.5°C. a) Determine the temperature of the copper-aluminum interface. b) How much...
  18. I

    Fermi-Dirac distribution for metals

    Hello everyone! I'm a little confused. The Fermi-Dirac distribution is about every electron in a metal or only about the valence electrons?
  19. D

    PHYSICAL explanation of light reflection by metals

    Electric field of an electromagnetic wave incident on a metal accelerates free electrons, and these accelerating electrons then emit radiation opposite to the electric field of the wave, thus reducing the resultant amplitude in the forward direction. Radiation emitted in the backward direction...
  20. T

    Why are Fe, Ni, Co ferromagnetic among metals?

    What makes Fe, Co and Ni ferromagnetic compared to all other metals (with exception of Gd, Dy and some exotic alloys according to Wikipedia)? If other ferromagnetic metals just have lower Curie temperatures then why is it so? Sub-question: In pure metals is there any correlation in magnetic...
  21. L

    Magnetism, electrical and thermal conductivity of metals

    1. I would like to test myself on how well I know my information about certain metals, some of them get me a bit puzzled. How would you rate the electrical conductivity of cast iron? Poor, good, excellent or best? Also the thermal conductivity of 304 stainless steel? Poor, good, excellent or...
  22. L

    Magnetism, electrical and thermal conductivity of metals

    I would like to test myself on how well I know my information about certain metals, some of them get me a bit puzzled. How would you rate the electrical conductivity of cast iron? Poor, good, excellent or best? Also the thermal conductivity of 304 stainless steel? Poor, good, excellent...
  23. D

    Delocalization in metals and conjugated systems

    Hi Fellow Members, I am a bit confused about delocalization concept. Since, in organic chemistry we have been told that delocalization only exits between conjugated systems but in inorganic chemistry there is delocalization of electrons in metals with no double bonds. Isn't it...
  24. D

    Why can't you remove hydroxide from Al(OH)3 with alkali metals?

    So I've tried to research a bit on refining aluminum without fluorine, and I came up with the idea of reacting the hydroxide off aluminum hydroxide with sodium or potassium. Only problem is, the reaction doesn't work, according to what I've found. I'm curious why, as the electronegativity...
  25. A

    Is the Fermi Surface Relevant for Metals with Band Structure?

    Does this construction even make sense? By definition it is a surface of constant energy in k-space, so for the free electron it is a sphere. But for metals you have band structure so that a given k-vector can have several different energies associated with it. Which of these are to be chosen?
  26. J

    Question: will highly charged metals break apart?

    Because of the "sea of electrons" holding a metal lattice together is it possible to charge that metal so much positively (by removing enough electrons) that it will break apart due to the unbalanced repulsion between positive nuclei? normally the interaction between the "sea of electrons" and...
  27. S

    Why transition metals can have unpaired electrons in their compounds?

    Why can have transition metals unpaired electrons in their compounds? In correlates to their multiple oxidation states, but I still don't know the explanation of it, that would make me satisfied - I suppose it's mathematical, as molecular orbitals are creating. Or is there any explanation?
  28. Astronomer1

    Do Transition Metals Always Lose Electrons to Fill d-Subshells?

    1. Regarding: Transition metals of the Periodic Table 2. Here's my question: the D-Block transition metals will always lose e- (& never gain e-'s) to fully fill (or half-fill) their d-subshells, right? 3. Given what I learned about stable, fully-filled and half-filled subshells...
  29. z.js

    What Determines the Valence of Transition Metals?

    Judging from the electron configurations, it appears to me that all transition metals in their normal state have 2 valence electrons. If it isn't, what are the valences of the transition metals, why can they have many different valences, and what are the 1B-8B columns for? Number of...
  30. F

    Ferromagnetism for 3d, 4f metals

    Why Fe, Co and Ni are ferromagnetic? what aspects of their electronic structure favors ferromagnetism? How 3d or 4f metals can be ferromagnetic and what is their origin of ferromagnetism?
  31. Z

    Calculating the Dielectric Function of metals - Units trouble

    Hello everyone here! See i got my hands on this paper: Optical properties of metallic films for vertical-cavity optoelectronic devices by Rakic et al. A simple google search of the title will give you access to the paper. Now, i am writing the function in MATLAB to calculate the...
  32. A

    Selective excitation of metals for ablation

    So I've heard of certain technologies that allow for heating of a certain type of metal inside of the body using external radiation. From what I understand, certain metals can be targeted while avoiding other metals. How does this "selective heating" process work.
  33. G

    Field Emission from Metals: What is the Truth?

    Hello everyone, a number of books and web articles says that the minimum field required is ≈10^7V/cm for electrons field emission/tunneling from the surface of metals. But fowler-nordheim formula shows that there is still considerable amount of field emission current density (mA/cm2) even...
  34. SSGD

    Crystal Structure of Metals at Absolute Zero, Waves

    I have been trying to find information on the crystal structure or phase of solid elemental metals at temperatures close to absolute zero, but I can only find information on there ambient structures. Does anyone know of any sources that would have thermodynamic tables for solid metals at low...
  35. jaumzaum

    Why are hydroxides of earth alkaline metals are so insoluble in water?

    Why are hydroxides of Earth alkaline metals so insoluble in water? They are polar compounds and have an OH group, so they should do hydrogen bounds with water, as well as permanent dipole interactions, which in my conception are strong forces. Even Mg(OH)2, witch do not have a big mass, has a...
  36. X

    Do magnets attract all metals, and is the speed of light in a water

    Homework Statement Do magnets attract all metals, and is the speed of light in a water constant? Homework Equations None that I know of The Attempt at a Solution I would assume that magnets attract almost all metals because they have an electron sea in them and they would be...
  37. T

    Physical effects of car collisions on metals

    Trying to understand what happens upon impact to the metal of a car that is stopped (Vehicle 1)when another car's driver's side rear (Vehicle 2) impacts the stationary car . Vehicle 2 is a heavier, larger car and is moving in reverse at approximately 10-15 MPH. The impact site on Vehicle 1 is...
  38. E

    Metals and semiconductors at high bias

    Hello, Is there a well known theory on how metals and semiconductors should behave, electrically, while under a high voltage bias? Say, 2-3V? For example, how does the conductivity change as a function of voltage bias as we go from the low bias regime into high bias? Is there a linear...
  39. B

    Metals and Coordination Chemistry

    My syllabus notes the following points about transition metals and complex ions, but provides no textbook. d – and f – Block Elements Transition Elements General introduction, electronic configuration, occurrence and characteristics, general trends in properties of the first row...
  40. S

    Conductivity of metals at 0 kelvin?

    What is the conductivity of metals at 0 kelvin? i think it will be zero because at 0 k entropy is zero. Every motion is cease.
  41. H

    Equilibrium for diffusion of gases in metals

    Hi there, This could be absolute nonsense but I just got thinking about this. Say you had a certain metal into which a quantity of hydrogen had diffused, and then you placed it in communication with another hydrogen-free metal (say, titanium), would it be possible that the hydrogen would move...
  42. F

    Effects of adjacent metals with different work functions

    Hi, someone was telling me that if you have two metals in close contact (like, one sputtered onto the other or something) with each other, if they have different work functions, you'll get some sort of diode effect (even without either of them being doped) if you have a current running from one...
  43. S

    What is the reason behind the limited miscibility of metals in alloys?

    Is it possible to make an alloy with all possible stable (non-radioactive) metals? I've googled around, and I couldn't find one, and also couldn't find a reason why it hasn't been made. If its not possible, what is the reason behind it?
  44. O

    Redox trends of the first row transition metals

    Hey, I'm having trouble understanding the trends of the oxidation states for the first row of the transition metals -my prof said that Cu is the only metal that forms a stable +1 oxidation state. But, I've done a question in hmwrk that had Cu+1 as unstable with respect to disproportionation how...
  45. N

    How can the activity series table be used to separate metals from salts?

    Homework Statement Using the activity series table, explain how we can separate the following metals from the corresponding salts 1. AgNO3 2.PbCl2 3.ZnCl2 4. AlCl3 This is for my chem 1 class. I'm terrible in this class and I desperately need help solving this.
  46. C

    What affects the resistivity/conductivity of metals?

    Homework Statement Why does copper conduct electricity better than other metals like nickel and alloys like steel? Also other metals like Zinc, Tin, Aluminium, Iron and Lead. The Attempt at a Solution When I tried researching it seemed related to the amount of electrons to carry...
  47. R

    BCC Metals: An Anomaly in Atomic Packing Factor?

    If FCC and HCP are the ones with the highest atomic packing factor, why would there be metals with BCC structures?
  48. A

    What causes metals to cold weld in a vacuum?

    I read that some metals, if sufficiently smooth, will become become cold welded upon contact in a vacuum. What process causes this?
  49. K

    Understanding RF Absorption by Metals in RFID Testing

    Hi everyone. I was wondering how badly aluminum affects RFID waves (860-960MHz)? Do they completely absorb, reflect, combination of the two? I'm having issues with my testing of RFID. I'm getting some dead zones and I think it could be because of the portal frame the antennas are mounted on...
  50. P

    What determines which metals will reflect or absorb electromagnetic waves?

    Why does nickel reflect infrared, but gold does not? I've seen devices that shine infrared at a metal surface and measure the reflectance. They're mainly used for looking at thin film coatings. For example, you could have a metal part made of nickel, and thinly coated in gold. The gold...
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