Metallic Lattice Structures
- Metals form giant metallic lattices in which the metal ions are surrounded by a ‘sea’ of delocalised electrons
- The metal ions are often packed in hexagonal layers or in a cubic arrangement
- This layered structure with the delocalised electrons gives a metal its key properties
Layers of copper ions (the delocalised electrons are not shown in the diagram)
- If other atoms are added to the metal structure, such as carbon atoms, this creates an alloy
- Alloys are much stronger than pure metals, because the other atoms stop the layers of metal ions sliding over each other easily
- The strength of the metallic attraction can be increased by:
- Increasing the number of delocalised electrons per metal atom
- Increasing the positive charges on the metal centres in the lattice
- Decreasing the size of the metal ions
- Due to the delocalised ‘sea’ of electrons, metallic structures have some characteristic properties:
Malleability
- Metallic compounds are malleable
- When a force is applied, the metal layers can slide
- The attractive forces between the metal ions and electrons act in all directions
- So when the layers slide, the metallic bonds are re-formed
- The lattice is not broken and has changed shape
How metals are malleable diagram
Strength
- Metallic compounds are strong and hard
- Due to the strong attractive forces between the metal ions and delocalised electrons
Electrical conductivity
- Metals can conduct electricity when in the solid or liquid state
- In the solid and liquid states, there are mobile electrons which can freely move around and conduct electricity
- When a potential difference is applied to a metallic lattice, the delocalised electrons repel away from the negative terminal and move towards the positive terminal
- As the number of outer electrons increases across a period, the number of delocalised charges also increases:
- Sodium = 1 outer electron
- Magnesium = 2 outer electrons
- Aluminium = 3 outer electrons
- Therefore, the ability to conduct electricity also increases across a period
- As the number of outer electrons increases across a period, the number of delocalised charges also increases:
How metals conduct electricity diagram
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Since the bonding in metals is non-directional, it does not really matter how the cations are oriented relative to each other
Thermal conductivity
- Metals are good thermal conductors due to the behaviour of their cations and their delocalised electrons
- When metals are heated, the cations in the metal lattice vibrate more vigorously as their thermal energy increases
- These vibrating cations transfer their kinetic energy as they collide with neighbouring cations, effectively conducting heat
- The delocalised electrons are not bound to any specific atom within the metal lattice and are free to move throughout the material
- When the cations vibrate, they transfer kinetic energy to the electrons
- The delocalised electrons then carry this increased kinetic energy and transfer it rapidly throughout the metal, contributing to its high thermal conductivity.
- When metals are heated, the cations in the metal lattice vibrate more vigorously as their thermal energy increases
Melting and boiling point
- Metals have high melting and boiling points
- This is due to the strong electrostatic forces of attraction between the cations and delocalised electrons in the metallic lattice
- These require large amounts of energy to overcome
- As the number of mobile charges increases across a period, the melting and boiling points increase due to stronger electrostatic forces
Examiner Tip
You should be able to draw the structure of a metal with positive ions in layers and the delocalised electrons surrounding the ions
If drawing the structure of a metal in the exam, make sure to include labels for metal ions and delocalised electrons