Types of Chemical Bonds: Metallic Bonds

Hey Nerds! Long time no post, I know. My Apologies.

In chemistry, we are covering Lewis Theory. I was reading over the energies associated with chemical bonding when I ran across something that I found to be interesting: metals do not covalently bond. In fact, they have their own distinct form of bonding. I thought to myself “what a perfect post topic!”

If you think of yourself as a science nerd, then I’m sure that you’re very familiar with both Ionic and Covalent bonding. If not, here’s a Quick Review: Ionic = electron transfer, Covalent = electron sharing.

However, you may not be as familiar with metallic bonding. As a biology nerd by trade, I sure wasn’t familiar with this when I ran across it. I had always thought that a bond between metal atoms was just like a bond between nonmetal atoms. WRONG.

Allow me to introduce the “electron sea” model of metals. It’s just like it sounds: metal atoms float around in a sea of electrons. You could also think of it like creamed corn.

But what’s so different about this? In ionic and covalent bonds, any one electron is pretty much bound in place. It still moves around the nucleus of the atom or atoms that it’s bound to, but it never leaves. On the other hand, in the electron sea model of metals, the metal atoms stay in pretty much the same places, but their electrons are free to move from atom to atom as they please.

This model also explains the ability for metals to conduct electricity (electrons can flow from atom to atom) and malleability (the atoms are not glued into place. their electrons can flow, allowing changes in conformation).

Whereas ionic and covalent bonds are both rigid in their structure, metallic bonds are the most easy-going of the group. They just go with the flow… of electrons.

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Best of Luck,

Grey