Question

For the following questions consider a piece of copper wire. a. What type of bond is formed between the copper atoms? b. Describe how these bonds form. c. Explain why copper is a good electrical conductor.

Answer 1

a. metallic bond

b. the valence electrons from the s and p orbitals of the interacting metal atoms delocalize. That is to say, instead of orbiting their respective metal atoms, they form a “cloud” of electrons that surrounds the positively charged atomic nuclei of the interacting metal ions.

c. due to the presence of free electrons in its outer energy levels

Answer 2

metallic bond

sea of delocalized electrons

Step-by-step explanation:

Copper has Cu2+ atoms arranged in layers and held together by a sea of electrons in lattice form. The sea of electrons or de-localized electrons are provided by Cu. Each copper atom contributes 2 electrons to the sea for binding of Cu2+ atom layer.

The sea of electrons are highly mobile and require a very small potential difference across the atoms to push these electrons to form a current. The mobility, ease and freeness of these electrons allows copper to be a good electrical conductor