Metallic Bonding (Edexcel AS Chemistry): Revision Note

Metallic Bonding

• Metal atoms are tightly packed together in lattice structures

• When the metal atoms are in lattice structures, the electrons in their outer shells are free to move throughout the structure

• The free-moving electrons are called ‘delocalised electrons’ and they are not bound to their atom

• When the electrons are delocalised, the metal atoms become positively charged ions

• The positive ions are held in the neatly arranged lattice by their attraction to the delocalised electrons

• Metallic bonding is the strong electrostatic attraction between the positive metal ions and the ‘sea’ of delocalised electrons

  • The strength of metallic bonding increases as the charge on the metal ion increases (more delocalised electrons per ion) and decreases as the ion gets larger

The positive metal ions are suspended in a ‘sea’ of delocalised electrons