Lesson 4
Metallic Bonds and the
Properties of Metals
Focus Question
How do metals and ionic compounds
compare and contrast?
New Vocabulary
electron sea model
delocalized electron
metallic bond
alloy
Review Vocabulary
physical property: a characteristic of matter that
can be observed or measured without altering
the sample’s composition
Metallic Bonds
• In a metallic lattice, the outer energy levels of
the metal atoms overlap.
• The electron sea model proposes that all
metal atoms in a metallic solid contribute their
valence electrons to form a “sea” of electrons
that surrounds the metal cations in the lattice.
Metallic Bonds
• The electrons in the outer energy levels of
bonding metallic atoms are called delocalized
electrons. They can move from one atom to the
next.
• When an atom’s outer electrons move freely
throughout the solid, a metallic cation is
formed.
• A metallic bond is the attraction of a metallic
cation for delocalized electrons.
Metallic Bonds
• The physical properties of metals at the bulk
scale can be explained by metallic bonding.
• These properties provide evidence of the
strength of metallic bonds.
Examples of physical properties of metals:
— melting and boiling points
— thermal and electrical conductivity
— malleability, ductility, and durability
— hardness and strength
Metallic Bonds
In general, metals have moderately high melting
points and high boiling points, as shown below.
Metallic Bonds
• The melting points of metals are less extreme
than the boiling points because the cations and
electrons are mobile in a metal. It does not take
much energy for them to move past each other.
• During boiling, atoms must completely separate
from the lattice. This requires more energy.
Metallic Bonds
• The movement of mobile electrons around
positive metallic cations makes metals good
conductors.
• Mobile electrons move heat from one place to
another quickly.
• Mobile electrons easily move as part of an
electric current when an electric potential is
applied to a metal.
Metallic Bonds
• Metals are malleable (can be hammered into
sheets).
• Metals are ductile (can be drawn into wire).
• The figure below shows how an applied force
causes metal ions to move through delocalized
electrons, making metals malleable and ductile.
Metallic Bonds
• Metals are durable. Metallic cations are
strongly attracted to electrons around them
and not easily removed from the metal.
• As the number of delocalized electrons
increases, so does hardness and strength.
Metal Alloys
• An alloy is a mixture of elements that has
metallic properties.
Examples: stainless steel, brass, cast iron
• The properties of alloys generally differ from
the properties of the elements that they
contain.
Example: Steel is iron mixed with at least
one other element. Some properties of
iron are present, but steel is stronger than
iron.
Metal Alloys
Metal Alloys
• Alloys are classified into two basic types.
Substitutional alloy: Some of the atoms in
the original metal are replaced by other
metals of similar atomic size.
Example: sterling silver
Interstitial alloy: This alloy is formed when
the small holes in a metallic crystal are
filled with smaller atoms.
Example: carbon steel
Quiz
1. Which of the following is true of the electron
sea model?
A Metal atoms share their valence electrons with
neighboring atoms.
B Metal atoms lose their valence electrons.
C The outer energy levels of the metal
atoms overlap. CORRECT
D None of the above.
Quiz
2. Identify the name given to the attraction of a
metallic cation for delocalized electrons.
A ionic bond C lattice bond
B delocalized bond D metallic bond
CORRECT
Quiz
3. What do the physical properties of metals at the bulk
scale provide evidence of?
A the strength of metallic bonds CORRECT
B the electron sea model
C delocalized electrons
D the overlapping electron model
Quiz
4. Which of the following is NOT a property of a
metal?
A durability C thermal conductivity
B hardness D low boiling point
CORRECT
Quiz
5. Which of the following is true of alloys?
A They have few commercial applications.
B They include salts, oxides, and water.
C Their properties are the same as those of the
elements they contain.
D They are mixtures that have metallic properties.
CORRECT
