Thursday 16 May 2013

1.47 explain the electrical conductivity and malleability of a metal in terms of its structure and bonding.

Most metals have high melting and boiling points because metallic bonds are strong and there are many of them to overcome in a giant structure, hence a lot of heat energy is required.

Good conductors of electricity because the delocalised electrons are free to move when a potential difference is applied across the metal.

Malleable and ductile because the layers of positive ions can easily slide over one another and take up different positions. The delocalised electrons move with them so the metallic bonds are not broken.

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