Cohesion in Monovalent Metals

Abstract

The theory of metallic structure, of Sommerfeld, Heisenberg, and Bloch, is carried far enough to explain cohesive forces, and calculations are made for atoms with one valence electron, particularly metallic sodium. The numerical results, though rough, are in qualitative agreement with experiment. It is found that the forces in general are of the same nature as those met in ordinary homopolar binding, discussed by Heitler and London; except that the purely electrostatic force from penetration of one atom by another is relatively more important, the valence effect from the exchange of electrons relatively less important, than in diatomic molecules.