Question detail
What effect does increasing the number of delocalised electrons have on the strength of metallic bonding?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
Bonding
Question
- A. It weakens the metallic bond.
- B. It has no effect.
- C. It strengthens the metallic bond.
- D. It changes the metal to an insulator.
Answer
It strengthens the metallic bond.
Explanation
Increasing the number of delocalised electrons enhances the attraction between the positive metal ions and the delocalised electrons, thereby strengthening the metallic bond and increasing the overall stability of the metal.
Common mistake
Misunderstanding Malleability
Students often confuse malleability with ductility, thinking they are the same property.
Malleability refers to the ability of a metal to be hammered or rolled into thin sheets, while ductility is the ability to be drawn into wires. To explain malleability using metallic bonding, state that the layers of positive ions in a metal can slide over each other due to the presence of delocalised electrons, which allows the metal to change shape without breaking. This is because the metallic bond remains intact as the delocalised electrons can move with the ions.
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