Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A metallic solid refers to a type of solid where the unit particles are closely packed together in a regular pattern called a crystal lattice, and they are held together by metallic bonds.
Related terms
Crystal lattice: The regular arrangement of atoms or ions in a three-dimensional pattern within a solid.
Metallic bond: The type of chemical bonding that occurs between metal atoms in which their outer electrons are shared among all the atoms, creating a sea of delocalized electrons.
Unit cell: The smallest repeating unit within a crystal lattice that represents the arrangement of atoms or ions in the crystal structure.