Metals are held together by metallic bonds. Metallic bonds consist of the attraction of the free-floating valence electrons for the positively charged metal ions. These bonds are the forces of attraction that hold metals together.
Metals are made up of closely packed cations rather than neutral atoms. The valence electrons of metal atoms can be modeled as a sea of electrons. The valence electrons are mobile and can drift freely from one part of the metal to another. Metallic bonds consist of the attraction of the free-floating valence electrons for the positively charged metal ions. These bonds are the forces of attraction that hold metals together.
A chemical bond which is formed in between positively charged atoms when there is sharing of free electrons in a lattice of cations is known as a metallic bond.
In a pure metal, atoms are surrounded by free moving valence electrons which move from one part of metal to another.
Thus, we can conclude that pure metals are held together by metallic bonds due to attraction between mobile valence electrons and positively charged metal ions.
