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.
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.