Metallic bonds are found in metals like copper.

Metallic bonding is the bonding within metals. It involves the delocalized sharing of free electrons among a lattice of metal atoms. Thus, metallic bonds may be compared to molten salts. Image File history File links Metallic_bond_Cu. ... Image File history File links Metallic_bond_Cu. ... General Name, Symbol, Number copper, Cu, 29 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 4, d Appearance metallic pinkish red Atomic mass 63. ... Hot metal work from a blacksmith In chemistry, a metal (Greek: Metallon) is an element that readily loses electrons to form positive ions (cations) and has metallic bonds between metal atoms. ... In chemistry, delocalized electrons are electrons in a molecule that do not belong to a single atom or a covalent bond. ... e- redirects here. ...

Metallic bonding is the electrostatic attraction between the metal atoms or ions and the delocalized electrons, also called conduction electrons. This is why atoms or layers are allowed to slide past each other, resulting in the characteristic properties of malleability and ductility. In semiconductors and insulators, the conduction band is the range of electron energy, higher than that of the valence band, sufficient to make the electrons free to accelerate under the influence of an applied electric field and thus constitute an electric current. ...

Metal atoms typically contain a high number of electrons in their valence shell compared to their period or energy level. These become delocalized and form a sea of electrons surrounding a giant lattice of positive ions. Properties For alternative meanings see atom (disambiguation). ... e- redirects here. ... Example of a sodium electron shell model An electron shell, also known as a main energy level, is a group of atomic orbitals with the same value of the principal quantum number n. ... A quantum mechanical system can only be in certain states, so that only certain energy levels are possible. ... In common usage positive is sometimes used in affirmation, as a synonym for yes or to express certainty. Look up Positive on Wiktionary, the free dictionary In mathematics, a number is called positive if it is bigger than zero. ...

The electrons and the positive ions in the metal have a strong attractive force between them. This means that more energy is required to negate these forces. Therefore metals often have high melting or boiling points. The principle is similar to that of ionic bonds. Electron configurations of lithium and fluorine. ...

Metallic bonding is non-polar, because for pure elemental metals and even for alloys there is no (or a very small) electronegativity difference among the atoms participating in the bonding interaction, and the electrons involved in that interaction are delocalized across the crystalline structure of the metal. An alloy is a combination, either in solution or compound, of two or more elements, at least one of which is a metal, and where the resultant material has metallic properties. ... Electronegativity is a measure of the ability of an atom or molecule to attract electrons in the context of a chemical bond. ... “Atomic” redirects here. ...

The metallic bond accounts for many physical characteristics of metals, such as strength, malleability, ductility, conduction of heat and electricity, and lustre. It has been suggested that Tensile strength be merged into this article or section. ... Malleability is a physical property of metals and metalloids, or generally of any kind of matter. ... Ductility is the physical property of being capable of sustaining large plastic deformations without fracture (in metals, such as being drawn into a wire). ... Heat flow along perfectly insulated wire Heat conduction is the transmission of heat across matter. ... Electrical conductivity is a measure of how well a material accommodates the transport of electric charge. ... Lustre (American English: luster) is a description of the way light interacts with the surface of a crystal, rock or mineral. ...

Due to the fact that the electrons move independently of the positive ions in a sea of negative charge, the metal gains some electrical conductivity. It allows the energy to pass quickly through the electrons generating a current. Heat conduction works on the same principle - the free electrons can transfer the energy at a faster rate than other substances such as those which are covalently bonded, as these have their electrons fixed into position. There also are few non-metals which conduct electricity: graphite (because, like metals, they have free electrons), and molten and aqueous ionic compounds which have free moving ions. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Metal atoms have at least one valence electron which they do not share with neighboring atoms, nor do they lose electrons to form ions. Instead the outer energy levels of the metal atoms overlap. They are similar to covalent bonds. ^[4] Covalent bonding is a description of chemical bonding that is characterized by the sharing of pairs of electrons between atoms. ...

See also

• Chemical bond
• Covalent bond
• Ionic bond

A chemical bond is the physical process responsible for the attractive interactions between atoms and molecules, and that which confers stability to diatomic and polyatomic chemical compounds. ... Covalent bonding is a description of chemical bonding that is characterized by the sharing of pairs of electrons between atoms. ... Electron configurations of lithium and fluorine. ...

References

1. ^ http://www.chemguide.co.uk/atoms/bonding/metallic.html
2. ^ http://www.chemguide.co.uk/atoms/structures/metals.html
3. ^ http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/chemical/bond.html
4. ^ http://www.physics.ohio-state.edu/~aubrecht/physics133.html