A metallic bond is a type of chemical bonding that occurs between metal atoms. It arises from the electrostatic attractive force between conduction electrons (in the form of an electron cloud of delocalized electrons) and positively charged metal ions. In this type of bonding, the valence electrons are nonlocalized and capable of wandering relatively freely throughout the entire crystal, giving rise to many characteristic properties of metals, such as conductivity, malleability, and ductility. The nonlocalized valence electrons act as a buffer between the ions of like charge and prevent them from coming together, which accounts for the cohesive or binding force that holds the metallic crystal together