Metallic Crystals

Metals are giant structures which consist of a regular array of positive ions in a sea of delocalized electrons. When metal atoms bond together to form solid, visible metal, their outer electrons are no longer attached to particular electrons and are free to move around the whole structure.

Metals are able to conduct electricity because the delocalized electrons are free to move throughout the structure. The energy is picked up by the electrons and moved around the metals, transferring the electricity throughout the whole structure. The same goes to heat energy.

Metals are easy to shape because their regular packing makes it simple for atoms to slide over each other. Metals are said to be malleable.