Metal bonds correspond to which type of bond?

• A. Metallic
• B. Ionic
• C. Covalent
• D. Hydrogen

Answer: (A)

Metallic bonding describes how atoms in a metal stay together. In this type of bond, some electrons are delocalized and float freely among a lattice of positively charged metal ions, forming a “sea” of electrons. This sea glues the metal atoms together and explains why metals conduct electricity in solid form and are malleable and ductile. The other options refer to different bonding types: ionic bonds come from electrostatic attraction between fully charged ions, usually metals with nonmetals; covalent bonds involve sharing electrons between specific atoms; hydrogen bonds are weak attractions involving hydrogen bonded to highly electronegative atoms. Since metals are held together by metallic bonding, that is the correct description.