Definition Of Metals
A metal is a solid material (an element) that is typically hard, opaque, shiny, and features good electrical and thermal conductivity
More About Metals
- Metals are generally malleable, that is, they can be hammered or pressed permanently out of shape without breaking or cracking
- The property of metals by which they can be beaten into thin sheets is called malleability
- Metals are fusible , that is, able to be fused or melted and ductile, that is they are able to be drawn out into a thin wire
- Metals are good conductors of heat and electricity
- That is why we cannot hold a hot metal pan or rod without plastic or wooden handle
- 91 of the 118 elements in the periodic table are metals
- Metals can be drawn into thin wires. The property of metals by which they can be drawn into thin wires is called ductility
- Metals are sonorous. That is they produce ringing sound when they fall on a flat surface or when they are struck hard by any object
- The materials other than metals are not sonorous
- The examples of metals are iron, calcium, magnesium, copper , silver and alluminium
- Metals like iron and copper rust when they are exposed to air and water
- The formulae of rust are Fe2O3.nH2O and Cu(OH)2 +CUCO3
- When sodium reacts with water it produces heat and light rigorously resulting in a basic solution
- Iron reacts slowly with water
- Metals react with acids and bases and produce hydrogen gas that burns with pop sound
- Metals displace lower metals in the activity series from their salt solutions
- The oxides of metals are basic in nature. They turn red litmus blue
- Metals like sodium and potassium are soft and can be cut with a knife
- Mercury is the only metal found in liquid state
- The atoms of metallic substances are closely positioned to neighboring atoms in one of two common arrangements
- One arrangement is body centered cubic In this arrangement, each atom is positioned at the center of eight others
- Another arrangement is face centered cubic. In this arrangement, each atom is positioned in the center of six others
Uses of Metals:
- Aluminium is suitable for the bodies of planes
- Copper is used in electrical wires as it is a good conductor and in water pipes
- Gold is used in jewellery and electric connections
- Steel is suitable for building material
- Silver foil is used for decorating sweets
- Alluminium foils are used for wrapping food
- Metals are used in kitchen utensils, which are the vessels used for cooking food in India
