Free electrons

[sophie_1003]

Did already ask this in a question further down but got no responses so can anyone explain the above concept to me, in terms of how heat is transferred if possible?

[jake-the-peg]

The key concept here is of an "electron sea"

In a metal the outermost electrons are free to travel away from their original atoms and can move easilly through the metal. Sometimes they're called "delocalised"

see picture: http://www.geo.arizona.edu/xtal/nats101/9_4.jp g

This means that they're free to "bump into each other" and easily conduct heat and electricity

[sophie_1003]

Thankyou!! All of the books I could find explained that heat and electricity could be passed through free electrons but not what they were! Thanks again!