Education in Chemistry 14–16 years
Available from rsc.li/468Rg0I
Metallic bonding and alloys
This resource accompanies the infographic poster Metallic bonding in
Education in Chemistry which you can download and print to display in your
classroom: rsc.li/468Rg0I
Learning objectives
1 Describe the structure and bonding in pure metals and alloys.
2 Explain the properties of pure metals and alloys using your understanding of
their structure and bonding.
Introduction
The worksheet will support learners to answer longer questions on metallic
bonding and alloys independently.
Task 1 is a true or false quiz which checks learners’ understanding of both
learning objectives.
Task 2 and task 4 Q1 ask learners to describe – and show their understanding of
– the structure of metals due to metallic bonding.
Task 3 and task 4 Q2 ask learners’ to use their knowledge of the structure of
metals and alloys to explain their properties.
A scaffolded version of the worksheet is available which includes prompts,
matching definitions and a structure strip to support learners to answer the same
questions.
Answers
Task 1 – True or false?
Metal ions are always positively charged. True
The metal ions are close packed in the structure. True
In metallic bonding, the outer shell electrons are delocalised. True
The delocalised electrons are in a fixed position and are unable to move.
False
Metals cannot conduct electricity. False
Metals have high melting points. True
Metals are malleable and ductile. True
An alloy is a mixture of two or more elements, where at least one element is
a metal. True
1
© 2023 Royal Society of Chemistry
Education in Chemistry 14–16 years
Available from rsc.li/468Rg0I
Pure metals are stronger than alloys. False
Alloys have a layered structure. False
In alloys, the atoms are all the same size. False
Task 2 – Description of metallic bonding
1.
Description of error Explanation of why this is incorrect
The charge of magnesium is 1+ Magnesium is in group 2 so has 2 outer
shell electrons. The charge should
therefore be 2+ when these are
delocalised.
The ions are too far apart. The structure should be close packed.
The outer electrons are in shells. In metallic bonding the electrons are
delocalised and can move through the
structure.
Magnesium should have 2 outer shell Magnesium is in Group II of the periodic
electrons. table. It produces Mg2+ ions and there
will be two delocalised electrons for
every magnesium ion.
2. Magnesium ions must have a 2+ charge. They must be close packed. There
must be the same number of electrons as there are ions.
Task 3 – Properties of metals
Property of metals Explanation using knowledge of metallic bonding
High melting point Metallic bonds are the strong electrostatic
interactions between the positively charged metals
ions and the sea of delocalised electrons. Metals have
high melting points as a large amount of energy is
required to overcome these forces
High density Metal ions are closely packed in a giant 3D lattice
structure. The close packed nature of the metal ions
means that metals have a high density
Good conductor of Metals are good electrical conductors due to the sea
2
© 2023 Royal Society of Chemistry
Education in Chemistry 14–16 years
Available from rsc.li/468Rg0I
electricity of delocalised electrons, which are free to move
through the structure and carry electrical charge
Malleable and ductile Pure metals only contain one type of metal atom so
the atoms are arranged in layers which can slide over
one another
Task 4 - Alloys
Alloys contain different sized atoms which means that the layers are
distorted.
Alloys contain a sea of delocalised electrons which can move through the
structure.
Pure metals only contain one type of atom, whereas alloys contain two or
more different types of atoms.
The atoms in a pure metal form layers as all the atoms are the same size.
In alloys however, the different sizes of the atoms distort the layered
structure.
Both pure metals and alloys lose their outer shell electrons to form a sea of
delocalised electrons.
Alloys are stronger than pure metals as they have two or more different
atoms, which are different sizes.
This distorts/disrupts the layer structure seen in pure metals which means
that the layers cannot easily slide over one another.
This increases the strength of the material while maintaining other properties
such as low density.
3
© 2023 Royal Society of Chemistry
