What does a metallic bond consist of?

A metallic bond consists of positive metal ions that are surrounded by a "sea" or cloud of delocalized electrons. This model describes how metallic bonding allows electrons to move freely throughout the structure, which gives metals their characteristic properties such as electrical conductivity, malleability, and ductility. The positive ions are held in place in a lattice structure, while the electrons are not tied to any specific atom, allowing them to flow easily.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately represent the nature of metallic bonding. Neutral atoms in fixed positions refer more to ionic or covalent bonds, where atoms share or transfer electrons and are not free to move. Negative electrons only would suggest a lack of positive ions, which is not the case in metallic bonding where both positive ions and free electrons are present. Isolated atoms with no conductivity describes a non-metallic element or a non-conductive state, which does not apply to metals that exhibit significant electrical conductivity.