This video uses the sea of delocalised electrons model to explain why metals conduct electricity and heat, why they are malleable and ductile, and why they have the characteristic metallic shine. Each property is explained directly in terms of the structure of the metallic lattice, giving you a single model you can apply to any metals question.

What You Will Learn

01:24What metallic bonding is and how the sea of delocalised electrons model describes a metal's structure.

02:10What positive metal ions are and why they form when outer electrons become delocalised.

02:16How the lattice structure of a metal is held together by electrostatic attraction between positive ions and delocalised electrons.

03:30Why metals are malleable and ductile in terms of layers of ions sliding over each other.

03:56Why metals conduct electricity well in terms of free electrons carrying charge through the lattice.

04:23Why metals are good thermal conductors in terms of electron and ion vibration energy transfer.

04:58Why metals are shiny in terms of delocalised electrons interacting with light.

05:48How exceptions such as lithium, potassium, and tungsten fit within the general metallic bonding model.