Metals are special because they can be shaped and stretched without breaking. This happens because of how metallic bonding works.

What is Metallic Bonding?

In metallic bonding, there are metal atoms that have a positive charge. Surrounding these atoms is a “sea” of free-moving electrons. This setup lets the metal atoms slide past each other when force is applied, which means they don’t easily break apart.

What Does Malleability and Ductility Mean?

• Malleability: This is when metals can be hammered or pressed into different shapes without breaking. For example, gold can be flattened into incredibly thin sheets, even thinner than a hair!

• Ductility: This is the ability of metals to be stretched into wires. Copper is very ductile and can be stretched into a wire that is longer than 80,000 meters without snapping!

How Does This Happen?

1. Atoms Moving: When you put pressure on a metal, the atoms can shift around a little. This movement keeps the metallic bond intact so it doesn’t break.

2. Free-moving Electrons: The free electrons in metals allow parts of the metal to move easily while still holding everything together.

Did You Know?

• Gold is 50 times more malleable than silver, which means you can shape it a lot more easily!
• Steel, a strong metal, can handle a lot of stretching before it breaks. It can be tough with a strength of about 1400 MPa.

In simple terms, metals are flexible because of how their bonds work. They can be shaped and stretched thanks to their unique properties.