Properties of metals

Metals are widely used chemical elements thanks to their physical and chemical properties that characterize them for being conductors of heat and electricity.

In their natural state and at room temperature they are in a solid state, except for mercury, which is in a liquid state. Likewise, metals have a high melting point, density and light reflection.

Metals are elements that abound in the Earth's crust and can be found both in their pure state (gold, silver, copper), and in alloys (steel, bronze).

Its use is very wide and diverse, since human beings have known how to take advantage of metals since prehistory to carry out different activities.

Physical properties of metals

The main physical property of metals has to do with their ability as conductors of electricity and this is due to their high levels of ductility.

The ductility is the property possessed metals for molding, stretch and change shape without their composition being altered to the being under a tensile force. For example, fine wires or strands can be formed.

Likewise, metals possess an important malleability property that makes it possible to create sheets of metal as high compression is exerted on this element, without breaking or breaking it.

On the other hand, it should be mentioned the tenacity that metals enjoy and that allows them to be hard and resistant, so they have a high resistance when they want to break or when they receive blows or other types of forces. Even metals offer high scratch resistance.

Finally, mention should be made of the physical property of mechanical resistance metals without undergoing physical changes. That is, the ability to resist different types of forces such as torsion, flexion or traction.

On the other hand, it is worth mentioning that some metals can also be forged, that is, modify their shape by means of high temperatures, or weld and form a single body after the union of several pieces.

See Metallurgy.

Chemical properties of metals

Metals have a series of chemical properties that cause a change in these elements during a chemical reaction. For example:

• Form cations after the loss of electrons to obtain positive ions. There are metals that react to oxygen and form basic oxides, as is the case of iron that, when in contact with oxygen, generates iron oxide. The combination of a metal alkaline with water forms a metal hydroxide.

See also

Metal.

Bronze.