ABSTRACT
The properties of free electrons of metals in terms of plane waves must affect the ‘atomic’ properties of the material. For example, the kinetic energy of the electrons, which increases as the available volume decreases, prevents the latter from collapsing beyond a certain limit and maintains a distance between the individual atoms. More exactly, in a global treatment of metal electrons, the states of valence electrons must be not only mutually orthogonal, but also orthogonal to the states of core electrons. Based on the free-electron theory, cannot claim to provide a satisfactory description of all metals. In particular, it does not explain the considerable differences in conductivity, cohesion, crystal structure, magnetic properties etcetera observed between metals such as lithium, tungsten or iron. To neglect the periodic crystalline structure of metals as people have done and to merely replace the electronic core of ions by a ‘black’ sphere must be paid for at some stage.
