Why Zinc is a Metal: Explaining Low Melting Point

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    Metal Zinc
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SUMMARY

Zinc is classified as a metal due to its sp2 hybridization, which facilitates the overlap of s and p orbitals, resulting in the formation of energy bands. This overlap leads to partially filled bands, a characteristic of metallic behavior. The low melting point of zinc can be attributed to the same orbital interactions observed in other metals like beryllium (Be) and magnesium (Mg), where the incomplete filling of bands contributes to lower melting temperatures.

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swapneel5
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as zinc is having completely field orbital sp2 ...why it is metal ? why it is having low melting point?
 
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I suppose the reason is the same as in the case of Be or Mg: In the solid, the orbitals overlap and form bands. The s and p bands overlap in energy space so that the highest states in the s band become empty and the lowest p levels filled. At the end neither of the two bands is completely filled and metallic behaviour arises.
 

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