# Gold is a metal used in jewellery and in electronic circuit boards. Gold is malleable, has a high melting point, and conducts electricity. Explain these properties in terms of metallic bonding.

> Edexcel A-Level Chemistry (9CH0) — 2.3 Metallic bonding · Explain · 5 marks

> Gold is used in jewellery because it can be beaten into thin sheets without cracking. It is also used in electronic circuit boards because it conducts electricity reliably. Gold has a melting point of 1064 °C.

## Mark scheme (5 marks)

1. Metallic bonding consists of a lattice of positive metal ions surrounded by a sea of delocalised electrons
2. Gold has a high melting point because there are strong electrostatic attractions between the positive ions and the delocalised electrons
3. A large amount of energy is needed to overcome these strong electrostatic attractions, explaining the high melting point
4. Gold conducts electricity because the delocalised electrons are free to move through the lattice
5. Gold is malleable because the layers of positive ions can slide over one another without breaking the metallic bonds, as the delocalised electrons maintain the attraction throughout

## Key terms

- [metallic bonding](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/metallic-bonding)
- [malleable](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/malleable)

## Related

- [Revision notes for Edexcel A-Level Chemistry (9CH0)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
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