Sabrina Arnett
1-16-08
Metallic Bonding
Metallic bonding is the electrostatic attraction between delocalised electrons, called conduction electrons, and the metallic ions within metals. Because it involves the sharing of free electrons among a lattice of positively-charged metal ions, metallic bonding may be compared to that within molten salts.
Metallic bonds are non-polar, because in alloys there is little difference among the electronegative of the atoms participating in the bonding interaction and, the electrons involved in the interaction are delocalised throughout the crystalline structure of the metal.
The metallic bond also accounts for many characteristics of metals. These include strength, malleability, ductility, conduction of heat and electricity, and luster. Without metallic bonding, metals would not be as useful as they are now.
