Overview

Molecules

Advanced Resources

To learn more about the metallic bond of alkali metals, see Chapter 19 in Volume 2 of the book.

Alkali Metals

The Flash animation may take a moment to download. Note: extended solids are not available in Millsian software.

Lithium Metal (Li)

Animation (2x2x2 Lattice)
Animation (3x3x3 Lattice)
Book Figure

Animated rotational perspective of a lithium metal lattice with transparent electron planes. The electron planes behave as mirror-image negative point charges to the Li+ ions such that the metallic crystal lattice bonding is Coulombic in the same way as that of an ionic compound.

Alkali Metals (Li, Na, K, Rb, and Cs )
Book Figure

To-scale structure of unit cells for (A) Lithium Metal; (B) Sodium Metal, (C) Potassium Metal, (D) Rubidium Metal, and (E) Cesium Metal.

Calculated and experimental values for the lattice parameters and lattice energies for the metallic bond of alkali metals. Calculations are made from exact, closed-form equations containing physical constants only.

Lattice Parameters (10-10m)

Lattice Energy (kJ/mol)
Calc. Exp. [1] Calc. Exp. [2]
Li 3.61167 3.5093 167.76 159.3
Na 4.31724 4.2906 107.10 107.5
K 5.33969 5.321 90.40 89.0
Rb 2.47034 5.705 79.06 80.9
Cs 2.65913 6.141 77.46 76.5

References:

1. D. R. Lide, CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 86th Edition, CRC Press, Taylor and Francis, Boca Raton, (2005-6), pp. 12-15 to 12-18.

2.  D. R. Lide, CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 86th Edition, CRC Press, Taylor and Francis, Boca Raton, (2005-6), pp. 5-4 to 5-18.