metals and alloys

• Metallic bonding


  The bonding in metals where the outer electrons are delocalized and free to move through the whole structure
• Metals


  • Consist of a giant structure of atoms arranged in regular layers
  • Have delocalized outer electrons that are free to move through the whole structure
  • Have a strong electrostatic attraction between the sea of delocalized negative electrons and the positive metal ions
• Metallic bond


  The strong electrostatic attraction between the sea of delocalized negative electrons and the positive metal ions
• Melting/boiling a metal


  Requires breaking the strong metallic bonds, which requires a great deal of energy
• Metals


  • Are excellent conductors of heat and electricity because the delocalized electrons can move and carry electric current and thermal energy
• Metals


  • Can be bent and shaped because the layers of atoms can slide over each other
• Alloy


  A mixture of metals where the different sizes of atoms distort the layers, making it more difficult for the layers to slide over each other, resulting in the alloy being harder than pure metals
• Some pure metals like copper, gold, iron and aluminium are not hard enough to be useful, so alloys are made to make them harder