Metallic Bonding Flashcards
What is Metallic Bonding and what element type forms it?
Metallic bonding is formed between metals. It involves metal atoms forming a lattice by delocalizing their electrons, becoming cations. The delocalized electrons orbit around the structure, keeping the lattice in shape.
What makes metals dense (closely compacted in substance)?
Metals are dense due to their strong bonding, as well as their very closely compact structured.
What makes metals malleable (can be rolled into sheets) and ductile (can be stretched into wire)?
The atoms are arranged in a way in which the layers slide over each other when force is applied, allowing such flexibility due to the sea of electrons.
What makes metals lustrous (shiny)?
The sea of electrons in a metallic lattice can reflect light. The electrons give the metal lustre, due to being mobile and orbiting around the lattice.
What makes metals good conductors of heat and electricity?
The mobile electrons in a metallic lattice can carry electrical charge and kinetic energy (heat), and transfer it to other electrons in said lattice, making metals good conductors of heat and electricity. In terms of electricity, one end of the metal becomes positive, and the other, negative. The electrons gravitate more towards the positive side, contributing to electrical conductivity.
What makes metals hard and have a high melting point?
Metals are hard and have a high melting point due to the strong attractive force between the sea of electrons and the metal cations. The more electrons are in this sea, the harder and higher the melting the point will be.
