KS4 Chemistry

Metallic Bonding

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 Contents

Metallic Bonding

Introducing metallic bonding

Properties of metals

Summary activities

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 Metals in the periodic table
Metal are found at the left and centre of the periodic table.

H He

Li Be B C N O F Ne

Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar

K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr

Rb Sr Y Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Pd Ag Cd In Sn Sb Te I Xe

Cs Ba La Hf Ta W Re Os Ir Pt Au Hg Tl Pb Bi Po At Rn

Fr Ra Ac Rf Db Sg Bh Hs Mt Ds Rg ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

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 Metallic bonding
Atoms of metals are tightly packed together in a giant lattice
similar to the lattice in ionic compounds.

metal Sea of free

atoms
ions electrons

The outer electrons separate from their atoms and become

delocalized, creating a ‘sea of electrons’. The atoms
become positive ions and are attracted to these electrons.

This attraction is called metallic bonding and is the reason

why the positive metal ions do not repel each other.

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 Electrons and metallic bonding
How is the sea of electrons involved in metallic bonding?

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 Contents

Metallic Bonding

Introducing metallic bonding

Properties of metals

Summary activities

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 Properties of metals: density
Metal ions form a lattice which is more tightly packed and
denser than the lattices in ionic compounds. They form
crystals called grains.

Metals generally have a very high melting and boiling point

because metallic bonds are very strong and so a large
amount of energy is needed to break them.

Which metal has the lowest melting point?

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 Properties of metals: conductivity
Metals are good conductors of:
 heat – the free electrons can take in heat energy, which
makes them move faster. They can then transfer the
energy throughout the lattice.
 electricity – the free electrons can carry an electrical
charge.

Silver is the best conductor of

electricity and copper is the
second best.

Why is copper used instead of

silver for electrical wires?

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 Properties of metals: strength
Metals are usually tough, not brittle. When a metal is hit, the
layers of the lattice just slide over each other. The metallic
bonds do not break because the electrons are free to move.

force

This means that metals are:

 malleable – they can be bent and pressed into shape;
 ductile – they can be drawn out into wires.

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 Metal grains
Layers of atoms can slip over each other in metal grains when
a force is applied, but this slippage stops at grain boundaries.

grain boundary: where

one grain meets another

The smaller the grains, the shorter the distance the atom
layers can move. This means that metals with smaller grains
are stronger and harder than metals with larger grains.
The faster that molten metal is cooled, the smaller the
grain size.
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 Strengthening metals
Metals can be made stronger by adding another element
when the metal is molten. The atoms of the new element
spread through the crystal structure.

force force

Because the atoms of the added element are larger, they

make it difficult for layers of metal atoms to slide. This
makes the metal less malleable and less ductile.
This process is called alloying, and the new substance is
called an alloy.
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 Different types of alloys
Adding different elements to metals creates different alloys,
with different properties. This affects how alloys can be used.
Usually, other metals are added, for example:

 zinc, magnesium and copper are added to aluminium to

create an alloy that is light but very strong. This is used in
building aircraft.

 chromium and nickel are added to iron to make stainless

steel, which is resistant to corrosion.

 tin and lead are mixed together to create solder, which

has a low melting point and is used to join other metals
together.

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 Metals and metallic bonding

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 Contents

Metallic Bonding

Introducing metallic bonding

Properties of metals

Summary activities

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 Glossary
 alloy – A material containing two or more metals, or a metal
and a non-metal.
 delocalized – Electrons that are free to move throughout
a structure.
 ductile – Capable of being drawn out into a wire.
 grain – A crystal of metal.
 malleable – Capable of being bent and pressed into a
different shape.
 metallic bonding – The strong attraction between
positive metal ions and the ‘sea of electrons’.
 sea of electrons – Delocalized electrons from the outer
shell of metal atoms and which move freely in metallic
structures.

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 Anagrams

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 Multiple-choice quiz

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