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New
New
Year 10
AQA
Higher

Metallic structure and properties

I can describe the properties of metals and relate these to a model of the structure of metals.

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New
New
Year 10
AQA
Higher

Metallic structure and properties

I can describe the properties of metals and relate these to a model of the structure of metals.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Metals are good electrical conductors and good thermal conductors.
  2. Metals can be stretched into wires, or bent/hammered into different shapes.
  3. Individual atoms do not have the physical properties of the substances that contain them.
  4. Metallic structures consist of positive ions and free–moving outer shell electrons.
  5. Electrostatic forces of attraction between ions and free electrons bind them all together in a giant metallic structure.

Common misconception

A metal is an individual atom. The property of a metal atom is the same as the bulk material. Pupils get confused between the attractive forces in the metal atoms and the metallic bond.

Reinforce the idea that atoms are tiny and not visible to the naked eye. The material we know as metal is many millions of atoms joined together. Revisit the structure of the atoms before introducing the idea of metallic bonding and giant structure.

Keywords

  • Malleable - A malleable substance can be hammered or pressed into shape without breaking.

  • Ductile - A ductile substance has the ability to be drawn into a wire.

  • Delocalised - Electrons are said to be delocalised when they are free to move through the structure of a metal and can carry an electrical current.

  • Conductor - A conductor is a substance that allows charge or energy to flow through it easily due to the presence of delocalised electrons.

  • Forces of attraction - A force of attraction refers to the strength of the pull between two objects either due to their mass, their charge or the presence of magnetic poles.

Provide pupils with some metal wire and foil to show metals are ductile and malleable. They could also test metal objects for electrical and thermal conductivity. Consider asking pupils to touch different materials to see which are 'warmer' or 'colder' as a lead in to the video on slide 28.
Teacher tip

Equipment

None required.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
True or false? Most elements are metals.
Correct answer: true
false
Q2.
An is an atom, or group of atoms, with a positive or negative charge.
Correct Answer: ion, ions
Q3.
Which of the following are examples of physical properties of a substance?
Correct answer: melting point
pH
reaction with oxygen
Correct answer: thermal conductivity
Q4.
Which of the following statements about metals are true?
Metals form negative ions.
Correct answer: Metals are good electrical conductors.
All metals are solid at room temperature.
Correct answer: Most metals have high melting points.
Q5.
A compound is made of two or more different chemically bonded together.
Correct Answer: elements, atoms
Q6.
Place these prefixes in order of size from the largest to the smallest.
1 - giga-
2 - mega-
3 - kilo-
4 - centi-
5 - milli-
6 - micro-
7 - nano-

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the following terms to the correct definition.
Correct Answer:malleable,Can be hammered or pressed into shape without breaking.

Can be hammered or pressed into shape without breaking.

Correct Answer:ductile,Can be drawn into a wire.

Can be drawn into a wire.

Correct Answer:delocalised ,Describes electrons free to move through the structure.

Describes electrons free to move through the structure.

Correct Answer:conductor,Substance that allows charge or energy to flow through it.

Substance that allows charge or energy to flow through it.

Q2.
A metallic bond is the strong electrostatic force of attraction between the and the delocalised electrons.
Correct Answer: metal ions, ions, cations, metal cations
Q3.
Which of the following statements describe the structure of a metal?
Correct answer: Regular structure of positive ions.
Correct answer: A sea of delocalised electrons.
More negative than positive charges.
Negative metal ions.
Q4.
Mercury is a metal that is liquid at room temperature. What does this tell you about the properties of mercury?
It is ductile.
Correct answer: It has a low melting point.
It is malleable.
It conducts electricity.
Q5.
True or false? The individual atoms of a metal have the same physical properties of the whole metal.
true
Correct answer: false
Q6.
Metals are good thermal conductors because ...
Correct answer: they contain delocalised electrons.
they contain metal ions.
they are good electrical conductors.