Metallic Bond - GCSE Chemistry Definition

Reviewed by: Richard Boole

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Metallic bonds are the type of chemical bond found in metals, where positive metal ions are surrounded by a 'sea' of delocalised electrons. These electrons are free to move throughout the structure and are not held by any specific atom.

This bonding explains many of the properties of metals, including:

  • Good electrical and thermal conductivity (due to free-moving electrons)

  • Malleability and ductility (layers of atoms can slide over each other)

  • High melting and boiling points (strong forces between ions and electrons)

The metallic bond holds the metal atoms together very strongly, making metals both useful and durable.

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Richard Boole

Reviewer: Richard Boole

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Richard has taught Chemistry for over 15 years as well as working as a science tutor, examiner, content creator and author. He wasn’t the greatest at exams and only discovered how to revise in his final year at university. That knowledge made him want to help students learn how to revise, challenge them to think about what they actually know and hopefully succeed; so here he is, happily, at SME.

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