 Metallic bonding can be classified as a type of covalent bonding for which the constituent atoms of the same type and do not combine with one another to form a chemical bond . Atoms will lose an electron ( s ) forming an array of positive ions . These electrons are shared by the lattice which makes the electron cluster mobile , as the electrons are free to move as well as the ions . For this , it gives metals their relatively high thermal and electrical conductivity as well as being characteristically ductile . 
