This definitions covers Key Definitions within Metallic Bonding for GCSE Chemistry. Revise Metallic Bonding in Bonding & Structure for GCSE Chemistry with 20 exam-style questions and 20 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 5 of 11 in this topic. Make sure you can use the exact wording confidently, because definition marks are often lost through vague language.
Topic position
Section 5 of 11
Practice
20 questions
Recall
20 flashcards
📖 Key Definitions
Metallic bond: The electrostatic force of attraction between positive metal ions and the surrounding sea of delocalised (free) electrons.
Delocalised electrons: Electrons that are not fixed to any individual atom but are free to move throughout the entire metallic structure.
Sea of electrons: A model describing the delocalised electrons in a metal — a continuous mobile "cloud" of electrons surrounding the positive ions.
Malleable: Can be hammered or rolled into a different shape without fracturing — a property of metals due to layers of ions sliding within the electron sea.
Ductile: Can be drawn out into a thin wire — a property of metals for the same reason as malleability.