Metallic Bonding

• Metallic Bonding


  Involves Delocalised Electrons
• Metals

  • Giant structures of atoms
  • Contain lots and lots of metal atoms bonded together
• Delocalised electrons


  Electrons in the outer shell of the metal atoms are free to move around
• Metallic bonds

  • Strong forces of electrostatic attraction between the positive metal ions and the charged delocalised electrons
  • Hold the atoms together in a regular pattern
• Metallic bonds are very strong

  Lots of energy is needed to break them
• Most substances with metallic bonds have very high melting and boiling points
• Metals are usually good conductors of electricity and heat
• Metals

  • Layers of atoms can slide over each other
  • Can be bent or formed into different shapes
• Alloy

  A mixture of two or more metals or a metal and another element
• Mixing another element with a pure metal

  Causes the layers of metal atoms to lose their shape
• Different elements have different sized atoms
• Alloying makes it more difficult for the atoms to slide over each other

  Makes alloys harder and more used than pure metals