Table of Contents
Why are metals generally lustrous?
Metals are lustrous due to the flow of free electrons. The outer electrons in a metal are almost not bound to any individual atom, thus are relatively free. 3. These free electrons (electron density) are concentrated on the surface and can move freely in metal.
What metals are lustrous?
Luster: Metals have the quality of reflecting light from its surface and can be polished e.g., gold, silver and copper.
What is the cause of lustre?
Explanation. The free electrons can move freely in the metal, causing any light incident to reflect. This reflection is a specular reflection rather than diffused, and thus the metal surface appears shiny or lustrous. Minerals produce metallic lustre with a refractive index of greater than 3.
Why are metals lustrous and non metals not?
Metals have the quality of reflecting light from their surface and can be polished e.g., gold, silver and copper. Lead is an example of a metal that is non-lustrous. Non-metals do not have lustre. They do not reflect light from their surface.
Which is the least lustrous metal?
Sodium is the metal which is non- lustrous.
What metal is free state?
Answer: Gold, silver, platinum, etc occur in free state. Since Gold, Platinum and Silver are the least reactive metals, hence they are found in free state in nature.
Why do some metals have a lustrous appearance?
I came across a question asking me the reason for the lustrous appearance of many metals. The answer stated that it was due to the presence of free electrons in the metal. But I don’t understand how this works. How do the free electrons affect the reflection of light from the metallic surface? Thanks. Light is an electromagnetic wave.
What makes a metal shiny on the surface?
Metals are lustrous because of the free electrons they have. The free electrons can move freely in the metal causing any light incident on them to get reflected back. This reflection is specular reflection rather than diffused and thus the metal surface appears shiny or lustrous .
How are photons reflected on a metal lustrous?
Photons of light do not penetrate very far into the surface of a metal and are typically reflected, or bounced off, the metallic surface, by the mobile electrons and what you get is metallic reflection, which is lustrous. Was this answer helpful?
How are the optical properties of a metal determined?
A metal is defined as an element or compound that has a lattice of positive ions that are surrounded by a sea of negative electrons. The optical properties of metals (when polished) are determined mainly by the metallic bonding containing sea of free electrons.