This work outlines the inadequacies of the "ions in a sea of electrons" model. Some general properties of metals are stated. A different "soft/flexible" sphere model is described. The benefits of using this other model to account for metallic properties are discussed. Equations based on the soft sphere model are used to calculate values of the enthalpies of formation of the Mx+ ions and densities of the lanthanide elements to show advantages of this model over the "electron sea" model. Values obtained from the soft-sphere-derived equations are shown to agree well with observed ones.