Metals

Properties of metals

(Usual) Physical properties:

-High melting points (except mercury)

-Malleable and ductile

-Good conductors of heat – because of their free electrons

-Good conductors of electricity – because of their free electrons

-Have high densities

-They are sonorous

-Sometimes magnetic (e.g. iron) (Usual) Chemical properties:

-Form positive ions

-React with oxygen to form oxides

Metals are often used as alloys (mixtures of metals with other metals and/or non metals) because they have an increased range of uses, the mixture of atoms gives an irregular structure which stops the layers sliding over each other so easily, so they are stronger.

This is what the structure of an alloy (a) looks like, compared to a pure metal (b).