Properties of Metals (Oxford AQA IGCSE Combined Science Double Award)

Properties of Metals

• Metallic bonds are very strong and are a result of the attraction between the positive metal ions and the negative delocalised electrons within the metal lattice structure

• Metals thus have very high melting and boiling points and are solids at room temperature, with the exception of mercury which is a liquid

• They are usually insoluble in water although some do react with it

• Metals are good conductors of heat and electricity due to the delocalised electrons

Diagram to show metallic bonding

• Most metals are malleable

  • This means they can be hammered into shape

  • This is because the atoms are arranged in layers which can slide over each when force is applied 

Malleability of metals