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What does it mean that valence electrons in a metal are delocalized?

2 Answers

5 votes
It means they are not attached to their "parent" atom, and they are aloud to roam freely to move through the bulk structure.
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User Alnafie
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5 votes

Step-by-step explanation:

The valence electrons in the metallic bond from the s and the p orbitals of the metal atoms delocalize. This means that the electrons which remain in the atom with their respective nuclei, instead of this they orbit the metal atoms and for a sea of the electrons that surrounds the nuclei of the atoms.

This means when one say that the valence electrons in a metal are delocalized.

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User Thomas Maddocks
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