what does the 'sea' of electrons mean?

[chuckjefster90]

what does the 'sea' of electrons mean when the ions are surrounded by them.
thanks heaps

[physics]

doesn't it liturally mean there are heaps of free flowing delocalised electrons that surround the ions

[chuckjefster90]

thanks heasp that helps.

[QuantumJG]

what does the 'sea' of electrons mean when the ions are surrounded by them.
thanks heaps

In a metallic lattice a different bond is formed (compared to ionic or molecular bonds - ok my chemistry is fairly rusty) by each element's 'valence' electrons moving around. In physics this is the basis of a conductor because if you apply an electric field to them (say from a battery) and this sea of electrons will move really slowly in the direction of the electric field.