The use of the lattice energy, crystal structure, and coordination number of a metal to calculate the bond energy of metallic solids, at a level that is suitable for an introductory materials science course, is described. These calculated bond energies can be utilized to make reasonable estimates of the surface energy of the closest-packed, and thus most stable, crystallographic plane of the solid. This approach demonstrates the possibility of predicting material properties from the interatomic or intermolecular interaction energy on a fairly elementary level.