Metals (Edexcel GCSE Chemistry)

Properties of Metals

The link between metallic bonding and the properties of metals

• Metals have high melting and boiling points

  • There are many strong metallic bonds in giant metallic structures

  • A lot of heat energy is needed to overcome forces and break these bonds

• Metals conduct electricity

  • There are free electrons available to move and carry charge

  • Electrons entering one end of the metal cause a delocalised electron to displace itself from the other end

  • Hence electrons can flow so electricity is conducted

• Metals are malleable and ductile

  • Layers of positive ions can slide over one another and take up different positions

  • Metallic bonding is not disrupted as the valence electrons do not belong to any particular metal atom so the delocalised electrons will move with them

  • Metallic bonds are thus not broken and as a result metals are strong but flexible

  • They can be hammered and bent into different shapes without breaking

Summary Table of the Physical Properties of Metals

Metals and non-metals

• The Periodic Table contains over 100 different elements

• They can be divided into two broad types: metals and non-metals

• Most of the elements are metals and a small number of elements display properties of both types. These elements are called metalloids or semi-metals

The metallic character diminishes moving left to right across the Periodic Table

• The typical properties of metals and non-metals can be compared side-by-side:

Comparison Table of Metals and Non-metals