Metal
An element that is usually shiny, hard, strong and a good conductor of heat and electricity. Metals sit on the left and centre of the periodic table.
Last updated
Analogy
Metals are like crowds that happily hand over their outer electrons.
In practice
Copper is used in electric wires because it conducts well and can be bent into shape.
Practice
Flashcards
- Name two properties of typical metals.They conduct electricity and heat, and they are strong and shiny.
Questions people ask
Why do metals conduct electricity?
A metal holds its atoms in a structure where outer electrons move freely. These loose electrons carry charge through the metal when a voltage is applied. They also carry heat energy quickly, which is why metal pans warm fast. Non-metals generally have no free electrons.
Are all metals hard and solid?
Not all. Mercury is a liquid at room temperature. Sodium and potassium are soft enough to cut with a knife. Most metals are hard, strong and have high melting points, but group 1 metals are soft and melt at low temperatures compared with iron.