Metallic bonding and alloys
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Explainer Video
Summary
Metallic bonding and alloys
In a nutshell
Metallic bonding is the bonding between atoms within a metal. The bonding in metals contains delocalised electrons, which are responsible for most of the properties of metals.
Metal bonding
The bonding in metals consists of electrostatic forces of attraction between the positive metal ions and their delocalised electrons. A delocalised electron is an electron that is free to move around.
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Metals are located on the left-hand side and in the centre of the periodic table.
Properties of metals
Metals have certain properties. These are described below.
Property | Description |
Lattice structure | The attraction between oppositely charged positive ions and delocalised electrons creates a giant lattice structure. |
Melting and boiling points | Metals have high melting and boiling points. Their giant lattice structure has very strong electrostatic forces between the positively charged metal ions and the negatively charged delocalised electrons. This means that lots of energy is required to separate the metal ions, which gives metals their high melting and boiling points. |
Density | Ions can pack very closely together which makes metals very dense. |
Solubility | Not soluble in water. |
Material strength | The layers in a pure metal can slide past one another easily so pure metals are malleable (the shape can be changed). |
Conductivity | The free delocalised electrons can carry an electrical charge and heat energy, so metals can conduct electricity and heat. |
Alloys
Definition
An alloy is a mixture of two or more different types of metals. The regular shaped layers of atoms in a pure metal is lost with the addition of other metals. Atoms in the layers are now difficult to slide past one another, making the metal harder and not as malleable.
Example
This diagram shows the atoms in an alloy. The mixture of different sized metal atoms will cause disarrangement to the bonding in the pure metal, with the loss of the regular shaped layers in a pure metal.
FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions
Why are metals dense?
Ions can pack very closely together which makes metals very dense.
Are metals malleable?
The layers in a pure metal can slide past one another easily so pure metals are malleable (the shape can be changed).
What is an alloy?
An alloy is a mixture of two or more different types of metals.