Representing Metallic Bonding (College Board AP Chemistry)

• In a metal, metal cations arranged in a fixed lattice are surrounded by delocalized valence electrons
• The delocalized electrons are often referred to as a sea of electrons

A metallic lattice

Diagram showing metallic lattice structure with delocalized electrons

• Because the sea of electrons is free to move throughout the structure, metals are:
  • Good conductors of electricity
  • Good conductors of heat and have a low heat capacity
  • Malleable
  • Ductile
• Because there are very strong electrostatic forces between the metal cations and the sea of delocalized electrons, most metals tend to have high melting points 

Table of metal melting points

Metal	Magnesium	Copper	Gallium	Platinum
Melting Point (°C)	649.85	1084.62	29.76	1768.40