General Properties of Metals

Metals are a group of elements with characteristic physical and chemical properties. They play a crucial role in our daily lives and industries.

Common Physical Properties:

• Lustrous: Typically have a shiny appearance.
• Good Conductors: Excellent conductors of heat and electricity.
• Malleable: Can be hammered or pressed into different shapes without breaking.
• Ductile: Can be drawn into wires.
• High Density: Generally denser than non-metals.
• Solid at Room Temp: Most are solid (exception: Mercury).
• High Melting/Boiling Points: Usually require a lot of heat to melt or boil.

Key Chemical Properties (explored in other sections):

• Tend to lose electrons to form positive ions (cations).
• React with oxygen to form basic oxides (or amphoteric oxides for some).
• React with acids to produce hydrogen gas (if more reactive than hydrogen).
• More reactive metals can displace less reactive metals from their salt solutions.

Explore the visualizer for interactive demonstrations of specific chemical reactions!