Metallic bonding

Strength of metallic bonding

Electrical conductivity
Melting point and boiling point
Strength of metallic ● Metals are bonded in giant lattice structure held
bonding together by strong electrostatic force of attraction
between positive ions and free electrons.
● The strength of metallic bonding depends on:
 Number of protons
The more the protons, stronger the force of
attraction and stronger is the bond.
 Number of free electrons
The more the number of free electrons, the
stronger the bond.
 Size of ion
The smaller the ion, the stronger the bond.
● When potential difference is applied to both ends
of the metals, the free electrons move away from
the negative terminal due to repulsion.
● Electrical conductivity increases with number of
Giant metallic
free electrons.
lattice
 Electrical conductivity

● When potential difference is applied to both ends of the metals, the free electrons move
away from the negative terminal due to repulsion.
● In other words, these free electrons are attracted towards the positive terminal due to
attraction.
● As the number of free electrons increases, electrical conductivity increases too.
● Sodium, magnesium and aluminium have one, two and three free electrons respectively.
Hence, the electrical conductivity increases from sodium to aluminium.
● The electrical conductivities of period 3 elements are:

Element Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar

Relative Electrical
0.55 0.61 1.00 0.10 0 0 0 0
conductivity (Al=1)
 Melting point and boiling point

● The melting point and boiling point increases from Na to Si due to increase in strength of
metallic bonding.
● The strong force of attraction between metal ion and delocalised electrons requires high
energy to break. The melting point increases with the increase in number of charges.
● The melting points of elements in period 3 are:

Element Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar
Melting
371 923 932 1683 317 392 172 84
point (K)