Metals are materials that have certain characteristic physical and chemical properties. Some of the key properties of metals include:
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Luster: Metals have a shiny appearance when freshly prepared, polished, or fractured.
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Conductivity: Metals conduct electricity and heat relatively well.
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Ductility: Metals can be drawn into wires.
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Malleability: Metals can be hammered into thin sheets.
These properties are the result of the metallic bond between the atoms or molecules of the metal. Metals can be categorized according to their physical or chemical properties. Approximately three-quarters of all known chemical elements are metals, and the most abundant varieties in the Earths crust are aluminum, iron, calcium, sodium, potassium, and magnesium. Most metals are found in ores, but a few such as copper, gold, platinum, and silver frequently occur in the free state because they do not readily react with other elements. Metal atoms differ from nonmetal ones in how well they steal valence electrons from other atoms. Metals tend to give up their own electrons, which is described as their “metallic character” .
