PPT Slide

49

• Empty MOs that are higher in energy constitute the conduction band.

• In metals, the valence and conduction bands overlap, so electrons  can move from the valence band to the empty conduction band

• Thus, electrons are completely delocalized, free to move throughout  the piece of metal, explaining why metals conduct electricity well.

• Metals conduct a current well (conductors), whereas most nonmetals  do not (insulators).

• The conductivity of metalloids lies somewhere in between  (semiconductors).

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