A metal sample has a particular shape because of the attractive forces between the metal atoms.
If one looks through a powerful microscope at the arrangement of atoms in a metal, it can be seen that the atoms in metals are arranged in a lattice.
A portion of a metal lattice is shown at the right. You can see that the atoms in a lattice are arranged in a pattern. The lattice extends infinitely in all directions.
The attractive forces between the metal atoms are known as metallic bonds.
Metallic bonds are broken when a metal boils.
The high boiling point of most metals indicates that, in general, metallic bonds are strong.
However metallic bond strength is different for different metals. Evidence for this is the fact that boiling points vary over a considerable range.
If one looks through a powerful microscope at the arrangement of atoms in a metal, it can be seen that the atoms in metals are arranged in a lattice.
The attractive forces between the metal atoms are known as metallic bonds.
Metallic bonds are broken when a metal boils.
The high boiling point of most metals indicates that, in general, metallic bonds are strong.
However metallic bond strength is different for different metals. Evidence for this is the fact that boiling points vary over a considerable range.