metallic bonding

• metals are often very hard and strong
• an alloy is a mixture of 2 elements of which one is a metal
• metals are shiny when polished
• all metals are solids at room temperature except mercury which is a liquid
• metals are often malleable which means they can be hammered into shape
• metals and graphite will conduct electricity because they have delocalised electrons
• atoms of metal come together in the most stable condition by sharing electrons to "sea" of delocalised electrons in a lattice structure
• metallic bonding is known as the electrostatic attraction between positive ions and the "sea" of delocalised electrons
• the ions in pure metal are all the same size and because of this they can move around the lattice without breaking the metal apart, this is why metals are malleable and ductile