Metallic bonding

Question 1

What is metallic bonding?

Answer 1

Metallic bonding can be described as close packed positive metallic ions in a “sea” of delocalized negative electrons. The positive ions and the negative delocalized electrons create an electrostatic attraction that acts in an all 3-dimensions, strongly holding the lattice together. This strong attraction is called the metallic bond.

Question 2

What are the properties of metal elements that can be related to the bonding?

Answer 2

Metals have high or very high melting points
Metals are malleable and ductile.
All metals are conductors of electricity

Question 3

Why do metals have high or very high melting points?

Answer 3

Metals have high or very high melting points as the strong metallic bond has to be broken on melting.

Question 4

What is meant by metals are malleable?

Answer 4

They can be hammered into shape e.g. a car body.

Question 5

What is meant by metals are ductile?

Answer 5

Can be drawn into wires.

Question 6

Why are metals malleable and ductile?

Answer 6

Metals are malleable and ductile as the attractive forces of the metallic bond act in all directions.

Question 7

Why can metals conduct electricity?

Answer 7

All metals are the conductors of electricity as the electrons are free to move throughout the metal lattice.

Question 8

Give the name of a metal which is not a solid at room temperature?

Answer 8

Mercury

Question 9

What is a lattice?

Answer 9

Lattice means a regular three dimensional arrangement of particles.