Metallic bonding and structure

• Metallic bonding is the electrostatic attraction between delocalised electrons and the positive metal ions
• Structure of a metallic element:

  • atoms are packed closely together in layers to form a giant lattice
• Metal atoms have 1, 2 or 3 electrons in their outer shell.

  These outer electrons are lost from each atom and become free to move randomly throughout the metal. This leaves a sea of delocalised electrons which move randomly in all directions.
• Metallic bonding is so strong that metals have a high melting and boiling points
• What are the properties of a metal?

  -malleable

  -ductile

  -thermal conductor

  -electrical conductor

  -lustrous

  -sonorous