1.5 Metals

Question 1

What happens to the electrons in the highest energy levels?

Answer 1

They delocalise and can move freely between atoms

Question 2

What does delocalise mean?

Answer 2

They can move freely around the atoms

Question 3

What does delocalised electrons cause?

Answer 3

A lattice of positive ions in a sea of moving electrons

Question 4

Why are metallically bonded atoms always positively charged?

Answer 4

They lose their electrons when they become delocalised so they have more protons than electrons

Question 5

How do the positive ions stay together in metallic bonding?

Answer 5

The delocalised electrons strongly attract the positive ions and hold them together

Question 6

What forces hold metal ions in their place in their giant structures?

Answer 6

Electrostatic forces between positive metal ions and delocalised electrons

Question 7

Why can metals conduct electricity?

Answer 7

They are metallically bonded so their delocalised electrons can move quickly so a current can flow

Question 8

Why can’t magnesium oxide conduct electricity?

Answer 8

It is ionically bonded so it’s electrons are all tied up holding the compound together

Question 9

Why doesn’t magnesium oxide dissolve in water?

Answer 9

Magnesium oxide is charged 2+ whereas water is only charged 1- so it is not strong enough to pull the magnesium oxide apart

Question 10

Explain the physical appearance before, during and after bonding magnesium and oxygen

Answer 10

Before: silver, shiny, sturdy, metal
During: shining, blindingly bright, on fire, white light, energy given out
After: White, crumbling, breaks easily, chalk like, powder

Question 11

Why isn’t silicon dioxide soluble in water?

Answer 11

It is covalently bonded so it has no charge

Question 12

What is silicon dioxide?

Answer 12

Sand

Question 13

Fact file for copper: 
Appearance: 
Hardness: 
Conduct electricity as a solid:
Conducts electricity as a water solution: 
Soluble in water: 
Melting point: 
Boiling point: 
Structure: 
Bonding:

Answer 13

• bronzey brown
• malleable
• yes
• no
• no
• medium high
• medium high
• giant lattice structure
• metallic bond

Question 14

Fact file for sodium chloride:
Appearance: 
Hardness: 
Conduct electricity as a solid:
Conducts electricity as a water solution: 
Soluble in water: 
Melting point: 
Boiling point: 
Structure: 
Bonding:

Answer 14

• white powder
• solid but soft
• no
• yes
• no
• medium high
• medium high
• lattice
• ionic bond

Question 15

Fact file for sulphur:
Appearance: 
Hardness: 
Conduct electricity as a solid:
Conducts electricity as a water solution: 
Soluble in water: 
Melting point: 
Boiling point: 
Structure: 
Bonding:

Answer 15

• yellow powder
• solid but soft, fluffy
• no
• no
• no
• quite low
• quite low
• covalent structure
• covalent bond/no charge

Question 16

Fact file for silicon dioxide: 
Appearance: 
Hardness: 
Conduct electricity as a solid:
Conducts electricity as a water solution: 
Soluble in water: 
Melting point: 
Boiling point: 
Structure: 
Bonding:

Answer 16

• brown powder
• grainy
• no
• yes
• no
• really high
• really high
• giant covalent structure
• covalent bond

Question 17

What structures are formed by metallic bonding?

Answer 17

Giant layered structures in which layers of atoms are arranged in regular patterns as they are all the same size