What are Metals?

Metals are substances that are formed naturally below the surface of the Earth. Most of the metals are lustrous, i.e. they are shiny. Metals are made of substances that were never alive. 

This means that they are inorganic. They are natural compounds of the earth’s crust, which are generally found in the form of metal ores. They are associated with each other and also with other elements. Metals are present in the rocks that are washed up by surface water and groundwater. They also appear in atmospheric dust. They are strong, ductile, malleable and good conductors of heat and electricity. Metals are used in the manufacturing of automobiles, satellites, and cooking utensils, among other things. The majority of metals are typically hard. Sodium and potassium are notable exceptions. Knives can be used to cut them. Most metals are solid except mercury which is a liquid metal at room temperature.

Some common metals, such as Gold, Silver and Copper are shown in the image below.

Physical Properties of Metals

The various physical properties of the metal are,

• Conductivity: Metals are good conductors of heat and electricity and thus they find applications in day-to-day life like cooking utensils which are made of iron or aluminium as they are good conductors of heat.
• Malleability: Metals are malleable in nature. Malleability is the property of metals that allows them to be beaten into flat sheets.
• Ductility: The capacity of a substance to be drawn into a wire is known as ductility, and it is this property that permits metals to be used as cable wires and for soldering.
• Sonorous: Metals are sonorous in nature they produce a deep or ringing sound when struck with another hard object.
• Lustrous: Most metals are lustrous in nature, i.e. they have a shiny appearance.
• Solid: Metals are generally solid in nature except for Mercury which is a liquid metal.

Chemical Properties of Metals

Metals have various chemical properties some of the properties of metals are listed below.

• Metals produce metal oxide when reacting with the oxygen in the air.
• Some metals like sodium and potassium are highly reactive and they can react vigorously with moisture in the air and are thus, stored in an oil bottle.
• Metals are highly corrosive and they react with oxygen and water in the air to form rust.
• Meals react with bases to form salt and liberate hydrogen.
• Metals are good reducing agents

Uses and Applications of Metals

Metals are usually very strong, durable and highly immune to everyday wear and tear. As such, they need been used in past for tons of things. Even now, with developments in technology and a slew of other factors, metals’ applications have expanded significantly. Metals are even important in the economy.

• Construction Industry: Metals are the most component within the housing industry. Iron and steel are amongst the most utilized metals in the construction of buildings and even homes.
• Electronics: Metals are utilised to make cables and parts for electrically powered devices and gadgets because they are good conductors of electricity. TVs, cell phones, refrigerators, irons, and computers are just a few examples.
• Medicine: Metal elements are required for a variety of functions, including nerve impulse transmission, oxygen flow, enzyme reaction, and so on. To treat particular deficiencies or illnesses, several medicines are combined with metal compounds. Antacids contain metals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, titanium, and aluminium, which are commonly used in medicine.
• Automobiles and Machinery: They are widely employed in the production of machines for industry, agriculture, and farming, as well as autos such as road vehicles, railways, aeroplanes, and rockets. Iron, aluminium, and steel are the most often used metals in this area. The majority of cooking utensils are constructed of metals such as steel, aluminium, and copper. Metals are preferred because of their excellent thermal resistance.
• Other Uses: These days, most furniture is made of metal. Metals are also employed in the military, where they are used in the production of weapons and ammunition. Galvanizing protects metals from rusting by using certain metals.

All the elements around us are categorised into three categories metals, non-metals and metalloids. Thus we can say that all the elements in the periodic table are divided into these three categories. Metals and Non-metals are two types of substances that may be distinguished by their physical and chemical characteristics. Metals are elements that are typically hard due to the presence of a strong metallic connection between the atoms. Non-metals, on the other hand, are generally soft in nature. 

Metals are defined as elements that have one, two, or three electrons in their valence shell. Non-metals are elements containing 4, 5, 6, or 7 electrons in their outermost shell.

Let’s learn about metals, non-metals, their properties and differences in this article.