Defining Metallic Bonding
- Metal atoms are tightly packed together in lattice structures
- When the metal atoms are in lattice structures, the electrons in their outer shells are free to move throughout the structure
- The free-moving electrons are called ‘delocalised electrons’ and they are not bound to their atom
- When the electrons are delocalised, the metal atoms become positively charged
- The positive charges repel each other and keep the neatly arranged lattice in place
- There are very strong forces between the positive metal centres and the ‘sea’ of delocalised electrons
Metallic bonding diagram
The layers positive metal cations are suspended in a ‘sea’ of delocalised electrons
