Metals are electropositive elements that form positive ions by losing electrons during chemical reactions, except for hydrogen/07%3A_Periodic_Properties_of_the_Elements/7.06%3A_Metals_Nonmetals_and_Metalloids). They are characterized by bright luster, hardness, and the ability to resonate sound, and are excellent conductors of heat and electricity/07%3A_Periodic_Properties_of_the_Elements/7.06%3A_Metals_Nonmetals_and_Metalloids). Some of the key properties of metals include:
- Luster: Metals are shiny when cut, scratched, or polished/07%3A_Periodic_Properties_of_the_Elements/7.06%3A_Metals_Nonmetals_and_Metalloids).
- Malleability: Metals are strong but malleable, which means that they can be easily bent or shaped/07%3A_Periodic_Properties_of_the_Elements/7.06%3A_Metals_Nonmetals_and_Metalloids).
- Ductility: Metals can be drawn out to make wire/07%3A_Periodic_Properties_of_the_Elements/7.06%3A_Metals_Nonmetals_and_Metalloids).
- Conductivity: Metals are excellent conductors of electricity and heat/07%3A_Periodic_Properties_of_the_Elements/7.06%3A_Metals_Nonmetals_and_Metalloids).
- State: Most metals are solids at room temperature, except for mercury which is a liquid/07%3A_Periodic_Properties_of_the_Elements/7.06%3A_Metals_Nonmetals_and_Metalloids).
- Melting and Boiling Points: Metals have high melting and boiling points/07%3A_Periodic_Properties_of_the_Elements/7.06%3A_Metals_Nonmetals_and_Metalloids).
- Hardness: Most metals are hard, except for sodium and potassium which are soft and can be cut with a knife/07%3A_Periodic_Properties_of_the_Elements/7.06%3A_Metals_Nonmetals_and_Metalloids).
Metals are also generally ductile, malleable, and lustrous, and have high melting points. They are good conductors of heat and electricity, and are often used in electrical wiring and other applications where conductivity is important. Different metals can be combined to make alloys, which can have different physical properties from their constituent metals[[5]](https://www.neonickel.com/technical-resources/general-technical-resou...
