Metallic Chemical Bonds

  Breslyn.org   |     Bonding Topics

Metallic Bonds

You can think of metals as large structures of metal atoms held together by metallic bonds. Often metal bonding is described as a sea (like ocean) of free moving electrons around the positive metal cations. Because the delocalized electrons can move, they exhibit properties such as conducting electricity or being able to be bent or stretched. Video by Bozeman.

More on Metallic Bonds

  • Metallic bonds exist in a group of metal atoms (like in a coin or wire).

  • The electrons on the metal atoms are said to be delocalized and are often called free electrons.

  • The delocalized electrons can move between metal atoms and result in metals being ductile, malleable, and having a high thermal and electrical conductivity.

Metallic bonds can exist between different types of metal atoms as well. When this happens the are called alloys. For example Cu and Zn combine to form brass, an alloy.

More Help and Practice