The
energies of the MOs in a solid are very close together
and are grouped into Bands which gives
rise to the name Band Structure
which is used
to describe the electronic structure of
solids.
1. Valence band (formed from occupied MOs)
2. Conduction band (formed from empty MOs)
Metals.
In a
metal
electrons can move easily from one energy
level to another resulting in high electrical and
thermal
conductivity and so metals have the band structure of
a conductor.
Bonding
is very delocalised in a metal and it is therefore
Ductile
(may be drawn into wires) and Malleable (may
be hammered into sheets).
A
wide range of light energy can be absorbed and re-emitted,
moving electrons from one band to another,
metals are therefore Lustrous (shiny).