Virtual Lessons
Topic 2A Metallic Bonding, taught by a specialist chemistry teacher.
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Lesson 1 of 2
Metallic Bonding
This virtual lesson introduces the structure and nature of metallic bonding, and how this model explains the characteristic physical properties of metals.
The lesson opens by establishing the structure of metals as giant lattices of metal ions surrounded by a sea of delocalised electrons. These electrons are free to move throughout the lattice and are not associated with any single ion, which is central to explaining metallic behaviour.
Metallic bonding is then defined as the strong electrostatic attraction between the positively charged metal ions and the negatively charged delocalised electrons. The variation in strength of this attraction is examined in terms of the charge and size of the metal ions, and the number of delocalised electrons contributed per atom.
The lesson concludes by applying these models to interpret key physical properties of metals, including electrical conductivity, explained by the free movement of delocalised electrons, and high melting temperatures, resulting from the strength of the electrostatic forces holding the lattice together.
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