Representing Metallic Bonding (College Board AP® Chemistry)

Representing Metallic Bonding

• In a metal, metal cations arranged in a fixed lattice are surrounded by delocalized valence electrons

• The delocalized electrons are often referred to as a sea of electrons

A metallic lattice

Diagram showing metallic lattice structure with delocalized electrons

• Because the sea of electrons is free to move throughout the structure, metals are:

  • Good conductors of electricity

  • Good conductors of heat and have a low heat capacity

  • Malleable

  • Ductile

• Because there are very strong electrostatic forces between the metal cations and the sea of delocalized electrons, most metals tend to have high melting points 

Table of metal melting points