Metallic Bonding

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Metallic Bonding Noun

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[me-tal-ik bon-ding]

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Metallic Bonding

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The chemical bonding from the electrostatic attraction between positive metal ions and a surrounding sea of delocalised electrons.

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Example: This diagram shows metallic bonding, where positively charged metal ions are arranged in a fixed lattice, held together by a 'sea' of freely moving, delocalized electrons.

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Electrostatic Attraction Noun

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[eh-lek-tro-stat-ik uh-trak-shun]

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Electrostatic Attraction

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The force of attraction between oppositely charged particles, such as positive ions and negative electrons in a metallic structure.

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Example: A positively charged particle and a negatively charged particle pull toward each other, demonstrating the principle of electrostatic attraction.

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Delocalised Electrons Noun

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[dee-loh-kuh-lyzd eh-lek-trons]

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Delocalised Electrons

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Electrons in a metal not associated with any single atom, which are free to move throughout the entire metallic structure.

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Example: This diagram shows that in a metal, the outer electrons leave their atoms, creating a grid of positive metal ions and a 'sea' of shared, delocalised electrons.

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Electron-sea Model Noun

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[eh-lek-tron see mod-l]

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Electron-sea Model

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A model describing a metallic structure as a giant lattice of positive ions surrounded by a sea of mobile, delocalised electrons.

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Example: This model shows metallic bonding, where positively charged metal ions (red spheres) are in a fixed lattice, held together by a 'sea' of delocalized electrons (blue spheres).

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Metallic Lattice Noun

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[me-tal-ik lat-is]

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Metallic Lattice

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A giant, orderly, and closely packed three-dimensional arrangement of positive metal ions in the structure of a solid metal.

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Example: This diagram shows a metallic lattice, where positively charged metal ions are held in a fixed structure by a surrounding 'sea' of free-moving electrons.

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Cation Noun

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[kat-eye-on]

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Cation

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A positively charged ion formed when an atom, typically a metal, loses one or more of its valence shell electrons.

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Example: A neutral sodium (Na) atom loses its outer electron, forming a positively charged sodium ion (Na+), which is a type of cation.

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Valence Electrons Noun

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[vay-lents eh-lek-trons]

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Valence Electrons

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The electrons located in the outermost energy level of an atom, which are the electrons involved in forming chemical bonds.

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Example: This Bohr model of a Sodium atom shows the single electron in its outermost shell, which is its valence electron, ready to be shared in metallic bonding.

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Malleability Noun

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

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Malleability

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The property of a material, especially a metal, that allows it to be hammered or pressed into different shapes without breaking.

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Example: This image shows a metal bar being hammered and flattened into a thin sheet, demonstrating malleability, a key physical property of metals.

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Ductility Noun

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[duk-til-i-tee]

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Ductility

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The ability of a material, especially a metal, to be stretched or pulled into a thin wire without breaking.

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Example: This image shows that ductility is the property of a metal that allows it to be stretched or drawn into a thin wire without breaking.

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Conductivity Noun

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[kon-duk-tiv-i-tee]

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Conductivity

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The property of a material that allows it to transmit energy, like heat or electricity, due to mobile charged particles.

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Example: This image shows a metal rod being heated at one end, with the heat traveling to the other end, demonstrating thermal conductivity.