Metals and Alloys

• Metals - MP and BP

  • metals have giant metallic lattice structures
  • strong electrostatic forces of attraction exist between the cations and sea of delocalised electrons in the metallic lattice structure
  • metals have high melting and boiling points as large amount of energy needed to overcome strong electrostatic forces of attraction
• Metals - Thermal and Electrical Conductivity


  • metals are good conductors of heat since delocalised valence electrons allow efficient transfer of thermal energy throughout metallic lattice structure
  • metals are good conductors of electricity since sea of delocalised electrons in the metallic lattice structure can move around and hence act as mobile charge carriers
• Metals - Malleability


  • atoms of metals are arranged in an orderly manner
  • when a force is applied, the layers of atoms slide over one another easily
  • the ions in the metallic lattice structure are kept together by delocalised valence electrons
• Alloys

  • an alloy is a mixture of a metal and one or more elements
  • alloys are harder than pure metals since the lattice structure of an alloy is not regular as it contains different atoms of different sizes, preventing atoms from sliding over one another easily
  • alloys are mixtures and thus have a range of melting points
  • good conductors of heat and electricity