Metallic bonding
2.7What the syllabus asks of you
- Describe metallic bonding as the electrostatic attraction between the positive ions in a giant metallic lattice and a ‘sea’ of delocalised electrons
- Explain in terms of structure and bonding the properties of metals: (a) good electrical conductivity (b) malleability and ductility
Read the notes first
Chapter 2: Metallic bonding
Drill this topic
Every question on Metallic bonding, untimed, marked as you go.
Make a worksheet
Choose the years and how many questions, then print it with the answers on separate pages.
25 questions
1May / June 2026 · Paper 11 · Q7Show mark scheme →
AX is a metal; the charges on the ions are negative
BX is a metal; the charges on the ions are positive
CX is a non-metal; the charges on the ions are negative
DX is a non-metal; the charges on the ions are positive
Mark scheme
2Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 11 · Q7Show mark scheme →
ACopper atoms are attracted to a ‘sea’ of delocalised electrons.
BCopper atoms are attracted to a shared pair of electrons.
CCopper ions are attracted to a ‘sea’ of delocalised electrons.
DCopper ions are attracted to a shared pair of electrons.
Mark scheme
3Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 12 · Q24Show mark scheme →
ASolid 1 has good electrical conductivity only when molten.
BSolid 2 has good electrical conductivity only when molten.
CThe layers of ions in solid 1 can slide over one another.
DThe layers of ions in solid 2 can slide over one another.
Mark scheme
4May / June 2025 · Paper 11 · Q8Show mark scheme →
Athe electrostatic attraction between negative ions in a lattice and a ‘sea’ of electrons
Bthe electrostatic attraction between negative ions in a lattice and a ‘sea’ of protons
Cthe electrostatic attraction between positive ions and negative ions in a lattice
Dthe electrostatic attraction between positive ions in a lattice and a ‘sea’ of electrons
Mark scheme
5May / June 2025 · Paper 12 · Q26Show mark scheme →
Agiant covalent
Bgiant ionic lattice
Cgiant metallic lattice
Dsimple molecular
Mark scheme
6Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 12 · Q27Show mark scheme →
AX conducts electricity by the movement of electrons between layers of negative ions.
BX conducts electricity by the movement of positive ions through a giant lattice.
CX has a giant lattice of positive ions in a ‘sea’ of delocalised electrons.
DX has layers of atoms with delocalised electrons between the layers.
Mark scheme
7May / June 2024 · Paper 11 · Q28Show mark scheme →
AEach iron cation has a strong electrostatic attraction to a ‘sea’ of delocalised electrons.
BIn every iron atom there is a strong attraction between the protons and the electrons.
CIron has the same structure as diamond which has a very high melting point.
DIron is an alloy and alloys have different physical properties from the elements they contain.
Mark scheme
8May / June 2022 · Paper 11 · Q11Show mark scheme →
ABoth statements are correct and statement 2 explains statement 1.
BBoth statements are correct but statement 2 does not explain statement 1.
CStatement 1 is correct but statement 2 is incorrect.
DStatement 2 is correct but statement 1 is incorrect.
Mark scheme
9May / June 2022 · Paper 12 · Q11Show mark scheme →
Amalleable — the layers of metal anions can slide over each other
Bmalleable — the layers of metal cations can slide over each other
Cconduct electricity — metallic structures contain mobile anions
Dconduct electricity — metallic structures contain mobile cations
Mark scheme
10Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 12 · Q10Also set in Oct / Nov 2021 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
AA metal lattice consists of negative ions in a 'sea of electrons'.
BElectrons in a metal move randomly through the lattice.
CMetals are malleable because the ions present are mobile.
DThe ions in a metal move when positive and negative electrodes are attached.
Mark scheme
11Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 11 · Q9Show mark scheme →
Acopper ions ✓, electrons ✗, carbon ions ✓
Bcopper ions ✗, electrons ✓, carbon ions ✗
Ccopper ions ✓, electrons ✓, carbon ions ✗
Dcopper ions ✗, electrons ✓, carbon ions ✓
Mark scheme
12Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 11 · Q28Show mark scheme →
AMetals are malleable because the layers of atoms can slide over each other.
BMetals conduct electricity because their ions vibrate and pass on energy to each other.
CThe melting point of metals depends on the strength of the intermolecular forces in the lattice.
DTo form an alloy of two metals, the metals must have very similar ionic radii.
Mark scheme
13Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 12 · Q28Show mark scheme →
ATheir atoms are joined by strong covalent bonds in a giant lattice.
BThey have strong forces of attraction between negative ions and delocalised electrons.
CThey have strong forces of attraction between negative ions and positive ions.
DThey have strong forces of attraction between positive ions and delocalised electrons.
Mark scheme
14May / June 2020 · Paper 12 · Q9Also set in May / June 2020 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
Aan alloy
Ba hydrocarbon
Ca metal oxide
Da salt
Mark scheme
15May / June 2020 · Paper 12 · Q12Also set in May / June 2020 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
AIt conducts electricity by the movement of ions and electrons.
BIt has a high melting point.
CIt is decomposed by an electric current.
DIt is not malleable.
Mark scheme
16Oct / Nov 2019 · Paper 12 · Q6Also set in Oct / Nov 2019 Paper 11, Oct / Nov 2016 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
Adiagram A
Bdiagram B
Cdiagram C
Ddiagram D
Mark scheme
17May / June 2019 · Paper 12 · Q9Also set in May / June 2019 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
ABoth statements are correct and statement 1 explains statement 2.
BBoth statements are correct but statement 1 does not explain statement 2.
CStatement 1 is correct and statement 2 is incorrect.
DStatement 2 is correct and statement 1 is incorrect.
Mark scheme
18Oct / Nov 2018 · Paper 11 · Q9Show mark scheme →
A1 only
B2 only
Cboth 1 and 2
Dneither 1 nor 2
Mark scheme
19Oct / Nov 2018 · Paper 11 · Q25Show mark scheme →
ALithium has more valency electrons than sodium.
BSodium is more reactive than lithium.
CSodium is softer than lithium.
DThe attraction between the positive ions and the ‘sea of electrons’ is stronger in lithium than in sodium.
Mark scheme
20Oct / Nov 2018 · Paper 12 · Q9Show mark scheme →
AAluminium has layers of cations that can slide over one another.
BAluminium has layers of electrons that can slide over one another.
CAluminium has weak bonds between protons and a 'sea of electrons'.
DAluminium is covered with a layer of unreactive aluminium oxide.
Mark scheme
21May / June 2018 · Paper 12 · Q9Show mark scheme →
AA metal lattice consists of atoms in a 'sea of electrons'.
BElectrons in a metal move randomly through the lattice.
CMetals are malleable because the particles present are mobile.
DThe ions in a metal move when positive and negative electrodes are attached.
Mark scheme
22Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 12 · Q7Show mark scheme →
AThey are hard and brittle.
BThey are made up of a lattice of positive and negative ions.
CThey conduct electricity by movement of electrons.
DThey conduct electricity by movement of ions.
Mark scheme
23May / June 2017 · Paper 11 · Q9Show mark scheme →
Aanions
Bcations
Celectrons
Dprotons
Mark scheme
24Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 12 · Q13Show mark scheme →
Adiamond
Bmagnesium
Cpure ethanoic acid
Dsolid sodium chloride
Mark scheme
25May / June 2016 · Paper 12 · Q6Also set in May / June 2016 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
AElectrons move along the wire to the negative terminal. Positive ions stay in position.
BElectrons move along the wire to the positive terminal. Positive ions move to the negative terminal.
CElectrons move along the wire to the positive terminal. Positive ions stay in position.
DNegative ions move along the wire to the positive terminal. Positive ions move to the negative terminal.
Mark scheme