4CH1

Metallic Bonding

Principles of Chemistry · 2 question types

PractiseFlashcards

Exam Frequency Analysis

Past paper frequency (2018 to 2024)

This topic accounts for approximately 5% of your exam marks.

stable
Rare
Stable5%

Shorter-answer topic; typically tested alongside ionic and covalent bonding comparisons.

Metals as giant lattices

  • A metal is a giant metallic lattice of metal atoms packed in a regular arrangement
  • Each atom releases its outer-shell electrons into the lattice
    • These electrons are no longer attached to any single atom
    • They are described as
    • They move freely throughout the whole lattice, forming a
  • What remains at the lattice positions are the positive metal ions (cations)

What the metallic bond is

  • The metallic bond is the electrostatic attraction between the positive metal ions and the surrounding delocalised electrons
  • The attraction acts in every direction through the lattice and holds the whole structure together
  • The same bonding model applies to pure metals and to alloys, which are mixtures of a metal with one or more other elements
Metallic-bonding lattice — positive metal ions in a regular arrangement surrounded by a sea of delocalised electrons from the outer shells of the metal atoms, free to move throughout the structure
Source: Metallic bonding by Save My Exams
Exam tip

Forces in metallic bonding

Describing the forces in metallic bonding is a common 2-marker, so you need to know it is the electrostatic attraction between the positive metal ions and the delocalised electrons. Don't mention ionic or covalent bonding, sharing electrons, or intermolecular forces — those score zero.