Metallic Bonds

Front

Metallic Bond Noun

---

[muh-tal-ik bond]

Back

Metallic Bond

---

The electrostatic attraction between free-moving valence electrons and the positively charged metal cations that holds a metal together.

---

Example: This diagram shows how a metallic bond is formed: positive metal ions are held together by their strong attraction to a 'sea' of shared, free-moving electrons.

Front

Cation Noun

---

[kat-eye-on]

Back

Cation

---

A positively charged ion, specifically a metal atom that has lost one or more of its valence electrons.

---

Example: A neutral sodium atom (Na) loses its outer electron, transforming into a positively charged sodium ion (Na+), which is known as a cation.

Front

Valence Electrons Noun

---

[vay-luhns ih-lek-trons]

Back

Valence Electrons

---

The electrons in an atom's outermost energy level, which are free to move throughout the structure of a metal.

---

Example: This diagram of a sodium atom shows its single outermost electron, called the valence electron, which it can easily share to form metallic bonds.

Front

Sea of Electrons Model Noun

---

[see uv ih-lek-trons mod-l]

Back

Sea of Electrons Model

---

A model for metallic bonding where metal cations are arranged in a lattice and immersed in a sea of mobile electrons.

---

Example: This diagram shows fixed positive metal ions (kernels) in a lattice, surrounded by a 'sea' of delocalized electrons that are free to move.

Front

Core Electrons Noun

---

[kor ih-lek-trons]

Back

Core Electrons

---

The inner-shell electrons of an atom that are not involved in chemical bonding and remain part of the metal cation.

---

Example: This diagram shows an atom's structure, highlighting the core electrons (blue) in inner shells and the valence electron (red) in the outermost shell.

Front

Electrostatic Attraction Noun

---

[ih-lek-tro-stat-ik uh-trak-shuhn]

Back

Electrostatic Attraction

---

The force between oppositely charged particles, such as the attraction between positive metal cations and negative delocalized electrons.

---

Example: This diagram shows that objects with opposite charges, like a positive (+) and a negative (-) particle, pull toward each other due to electrostatic attraction.

Front

Crystal Structure Noun

---

[kris-tl struhk-cher]

Back

Crystal Structure

---

The orderly, repeating, three-dimensional arrangement of cations that forms the lattice within a solid metal.

---

Example: This diagram shows how atoms in a metal form an orderly, repeating pattern called a crystal structure, highlighting the basic building block (the unit cell).

Front

Conductivity Noun

---

[kon-duhk-tiv-i-tee]

Back

Conductivity

---

The ability of a material to transmit energy, such as electricity, which results from the mobility of its valence electrons.

---

Example: This diagram shows how free electrons in a metal move randomly, but flow in one direction to create an electric current when a voltage is applied.

Front

Malleability Noun

---

[mal-ee-uh-bil-i-tee]

Back

Malleability

---

A physical property of metals that allows them to be hammered or pressed into thin sheets without shattering.

---

Example: This image shows that a metal, like gold, can be hammered into a thin sheet without breaking. This property is called malleability.

Front

Ductility Noun

---

[duhk-til-i-tee]

Back

Ductility

---

A physical property of metals that allows them to be stretched or drawn into wires without breaking.

---

Example: This diagram shows that ductility is the ability of a material, like a metal, to be stretched from its starting shape into a long, thin wire.