Metallic bonding is intramolecular bonding within metals. It involves the delocalised sharing of free electrons between a lattice of metallic cations.
Metallic bonding, as with covalent bonding is non-polar, in that
there is no (for pure elemental metals) or very little (for alloys)
electronegativity difference among the atoms participating in the
bonding interaction, and the electrons involved in that interaction
are delocalized across molecular orbitals. It is also akin to
ionic bonding and distinct from covalent bonding in that the
interatomic forces are largely isotropic and are extensive
throughout the chemical, rather than being confined to a discrete
molecule.
See also chemical bond.
