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Difficulty: MediumMetallic Bonding and Properties of Metals

When a mechanical stress is applied to a solid metal, the material deforms without shattering. Which of the following structural features of metallic bonding is directly responsible for this malleability?

  1. The ability of layers of metal cations to slide past each other without disrupting the electrostatic attraction to the delocalized electron seaAnswer
  2. B
    The rapid breaking and re-formation of rigid directional covalent bonds between adjacent metal atoms
  3. C
    The rigid positioning of delocalized electrons that locks positive metal cations into fixed lattice positions
  4. D
    The expansion of localized electron orbitals which absorbs mechanical force without shifting metal cations

Answer

The ability of layers of metal cations to slide past each other without disrupting the electrostatic attraction to the delocalized electron sea
In metallic lattices, delocalized valence electrons move freely throughout the array of positive metal cations. When a mechanical force is applied, layers of cations slide past one another. The mobile electron sea adapts immediately to the shifted cations, maintaining the non-directional electrostatic attraction throughout the lattice so that the metal deforms (malleability) instead of fracturing.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the atomic-scale structure of a metallic lattice.
Solid metals consist of a giant lattice of positive metal cations immersed in a fluid sea of delocalized valence electrons.
Understanding the non-directional nature of metallic bonds is necessary to explain physical properties.
2
Analyze how applied mechanical force alters the lattice structure.
Under mechanical stress, planes of positive cations slide past one another.
Applied mechanical forces induce shear stress across crystal lattice planes.
3
Determine why the metallic structure deforms rather than breaking.
Because the delocalized electrons are mobile and non-directional, they adjust immediately to the shifted cation layers, maintaining attractive electrostatic forces throughout the lattice and preventing repulsive cleavage.
Non-directional electrostatic attraction preserves structural cohesion during deformation.

Key Concept

Metallic Bonding and Malleability
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Topics

Metallic Bonding and Properties of Metals

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