Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry · Syllabus 0620 · Atoms, Elements and Compounds
Giant metallic lattice
What is Giant metallic lattice?
The structure of a metal: a regular three-dimensional arrangement of positive metal ions with delocalised electrons moving freely between them. Because the electrons are mobile, a metal conducts electricity in the solid state, and because layers of ions can slide over one another while the attraction to the electrons is maintained, a metal can be hammered into shape or drawn into a wire without shattering.
This definition is part of the Atoms, Elements and Compounds chapter in Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry.