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The strength of metallic bonds can be reflected from melting and boiling points of metals.
Example 1: Alkali metals – Effect of metallic radius
Li Na K Rb Cs
Metallic radius 0.152 0.186 0.231 0.244 0.262
°
m.p.( C) 180.5 97.7 63.4 39.3 28.4
b.p.(°C) 1330 892 759 688 671
Note: Metallic radius ↑ no. of inner electron shells ↑
∴ more screening effect on the valence e–
∴attraction between outermost e– and nucleus ↓ ( bond strength ↑)
Na Mg Al
–
No. of valence e 1 2 3
m.p.(°C) 97.7 650 660.3
b.p.(°C) 892 1091 2519
Note: No. of valence e– ↑ more electron-nuclei attractions bond strength ↑
The strength of metallic bonds, ionic bonds and covalent bonds can roughly compared as shown in the following table:
Approximate range
Type of Bonding Estimated by
(in kJmol–1)
–780 (NaCl) to
Ionic bond (non-directional) Lattice enthalpy
–3791 (MgO)
Exploded view
A unit cell
Figure 1 Figure 2
In figure 1, each metal atom in the first layer (a) is in contact with 6 atoms in the same layer
(hexagonal).
In the second layer (b), each atom is also in contact with 6 atoms in the same layer, but also
in contact with 3 atoms in the first layer (put on the depression between 3 atoms).
Orientation of the third layer is the same as the first one.
For this reason, this packing pattern is called an “abab” pattern. The whole structure is
made up of alternating layers ababa…… (You may refer figure 2 as well).
In hexagonal-closed packing, each metal atom is surrounded by 12 atoms (∴coordination
number = 12).
Exploded view
Figure 3 Figure 4
The first layer of metal atoms has a different orientation when compared with the third layer
(see Figure 4).
For this reason, this packing pattern is called an “abcabc” pattern.
By looking at a four layers unit cell, there is 1 atom at the first layer, 6 at the second layer, 6
at the third layer and 1 at the fourth layer, a face centred cubic unit cell can be constructed
(see Figure 3).
Summary (Important):
Cubic-closed packing Hexagonal-closed packing
Coordination number
Packing efficiency
(% of space filled)
Packing pattern abcabc…… ababab……
Unit Cell
Number of metal
atoms per unit cell
Octahedral hole is surrounded by 6 atoms. It is the space between two layers of triangularly
arranged atoms. From another angle, it can be seen that the six atoms are arranged in a form
of octahedron.
Interstitial alloy ( 間 隙 合 金 ): Formed when some of the holes among the closely
packed host metallic atoms are occupied by atoms of smaller atomic sizes (e.g. steel)
Example 2
The arrangement of atoms in metals can be described by the close-packing of spheres.
(i) Which close-packed structure does abcabcabc... describe? Indicate on the diagram below one
tetrahedral hole (marking it T) and one octahedral hole (marking it O). (1.5 marks)
Face-centred cubic / cubic closed packed structure [0.5]
[1]
(ii) Describe the bonding in metallic crystals. (1.5 marks)
The structure of metal consists of a giant structure of cationic lattice immersed in a sea of
mobile valence electrons. Metallic bonding refers to the non-directional electrostatic
attraction between the delocalized valence electrons and the metal ions.
Example 3
At room temperature, iron has a body-centred cubic structure.
(i) Draw the unit cell representation of iron.
(ii) Deduce the number of atoms in one unit cell of iron.
(2 marks)