Metallic Bonding
Metallic Bonds Properties
e- are delocalized among metal
Bond Formation atoms
Occurs Between 2 Metals
Type of Structure “Electron Sea”
Physical State Solid
Melting Point Very High
Soluble in Water No
Electrical Conductivity Yes
Other Properties Malleable, Ductile, Lustrous
Type of Structure
“Electron Sea”
Structure of Metals
Electrostatic forces of attraction between the
positively charged cations and the negatively
charged electrons hold the lattice together.
A metal is therefore a seen as a rigid
framework of cations immersed in a ‘sea’ of
electrons that serve as the cement holding the
three-dimensional cationic network together –
Metallic bonding.
A metal is a lattice of positive metal 'ions' in a 'sea' of delocalized
electrons.
Metallic bonding refers to the interaction between the delocalized
electrons and the metal nuclei.
The physical properties of metals are the result of the delocalization of
the electrons involved in metallic bonding.
The physical properties of solid metals are:
⚛ conduct heat
⚛ conduct electricity
⚛ generally high melting points and high boiling points
⚛ strong
⚛ malleable (can be hammered or pressed out of shape without
breaking)
⚛ ductile (able to be drawn into a wire)
⚛ metallic luster
⚛ opaque (reflect light)
Conduction of Heat
Electrons are able to gain kinetic energy in hotter
areas of the metal and are able to quickly transfer
it to other parts of the metal lattice because of
their freedom of movement. Heat causes the
electrons to move faster and the ‘bumping’ of
these electrons with each other and the protons
transfers the heat.
Conduction of electricity
Conducts Electricity
When an electric field is applied to a metal, one
end of the metal becomes positive and the other
becomes negative. Since the electrons are free to
move, all the electrons experience a force toward
the positive end. The movement of electrons is an
electric current.
Malleable and Ductile
Understanding malleability and ductility
Malleable and Ductile
+ + + +
Force
+ + + +
+ + + +
Malleable and Ductile
Mobile e-’s allow atoms to slide by
like ball bearings in oil.
+ + + +
Force
+ + + +
+ + + +
Malleable and Ductile
Metals are malleable and ductile, rather than
brittle, as a result of the non-directional nature of
metallic bonds. The attractive forces exerted by
the positive metal ions for the mobile electrons
occur in all directions. This means that layers of
atoms can move past one another without
disrupting the force between the positive ions and
the negative sea of electrons.
High Melting Point
The generally high melting points indicate that
metallic bonding is quite strong.
Melting points increase with an increase in the
number of valence electrons to the sea, since
there is a greater attractive force between the
cations and the electrons.
High Density & opacity
Most metals have relatively high
densities because metallic lattices are
close-packed.
Metals typically have a shiny, metallic
luster. Photons of light do not
penetrate very far into the surface of a
metal and are typically reflected, or
bounced off, the metallic surface.
Question
Describe the bonding in iron and explain the electrical
conductivity and malleability of the metal.
metallic (bonding): electrostatic attraction between the two;
positive ions/cations and
delocalized/sea of electrons;
Conductivity: electrons delocalized/free to move;
Malleability: atoms/ions/cations can move without breaking
bonds / atoms/ions/ cations can slide past each other;
