What results in the high melting and boiling points characteristic of metals?

The high melting and boiling points characteristic of metals are primarily due to strong metallic bonds. In a metallic structure, atoms are arranged in a closely packed lattice, and they share a 'sea' of delocalized electrons that are free to move throughout the structure. This delocalization creates a strong electrostatic attraction between the positively charged metal ions and the negatively charged sea of electrons.

Because of this strong bonding, it requires a significant amount of energy to overcome these forces when a metal is subjected to heat in order to change its state from solid to liquid (melting) or from liquid to gas (boiling). Thus, metals typically exhibit high melting and boiling points as a result of these strong metallic bonds. This property is a distinguishing feature of metallic substances and is contrasted sharply with the behavior of materials governed by weaker types of bonding such as covalent or hydrogen bonds.