It has been suggested that Periodic table (metals and

nonmetals) be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since June 2013.
Metallic elements
Alkali metals
lithium
sodium
potassium
rubidium
caesium
francium
Alkaline earth metals
beryllium
magnesium
calcium
strontium
barium
radium
Transition metals
scandium
titanium
vanadium
chromium
manganese
iron
cobalt
nickel
copper
zinc
yttrium
zirconium
niobium
molybdenum
technetium
ruthenium
rhodium
palladium
silver
cadmium
hafnium
tantalum
tungsten
rhenium
osmium
iridium
platinum
gold
mercury
rutherfordium
dubnium
seaborgium
bohrium
hassium
copernicium
Post-transition metals
aluminium
gallium
indium
tin
thallium
lead
bismuth
polonium
Lanthanides
lanthanum
cerium
praseodymium
neodymium
promethium
samarium
europium
gadolinium
terbium
dysprosium
holmium
erbium
thulium
ytterbium
lutetium
Actinides
actinium
thorium
protactinium
uranium
neptunium
plutonium
americium
curium
berkelium
californium
einsteinium
fermium
mendelevium
nobelium
lawrencium
Elements which are possibly metals
meitnerium
darmstadtium
roentgenium
ununtrium
flerovium
ununpentium
livermorium
Elements which are sometimes considered metals
germanium
arsenic
antimony
astatine
V
T
E
A metal (from Greek "" mtallon, "mine, quarry, metal"
[1][2]
) is a material
(an element, compound, or alloy) that is typically hard, opaque, shiny, and features
good electrical and thermal conductivity. Metals are generallymalleable that is, they can be
hammered or pressed permanently out of shape without breaking or cracking as well
as fusible (able to be fused or melted) and ductile (able to be drawn out into a thin wire).
[3]
About 91
of the 118 elements in the periodic table are metals (some elements appear in both metallic and
non-metallic forms).
The meaning of "metal" differs for various communities. For example, astronomers use the blanket
term "metal" for convenience to collectively describe all elements other
than hydrogen and helium (the main components of stars, which in turn comprise most of the visible
matter in the universe). Thus, in astronomy and physical cosmology, the metallicityof an object is the
proportion of its matter made up of chemical elements other than hydrogen and helium.
[4]
In addition,
many elements and compounds that are not normally classified as metals become metallic under
high pressures; these are known as metallic allotropes of non-metals.
Contents
[hide]
1 Structure and bonding
2 Properties
o 2.1 Chemical
o 2.2 Physical
o 2.3 Electrical
o 2.4 Mechanical
3 Alloys
4 Categories
o 4.1 Base metal
o 4.2 Ferrous metal
o 4.3 Noble metal
o 4.4 Precious metal
5 Extraction
6 Recycling of metals
7 Metallurgy
8 Applications
9 Trade
10 History
11 See also
12 References
13 External links
Structure and bonding[edit]


hcp and fcc close-packing of spheres
The atoms of metallic substances are closely positioned to neighboring atoms in one of two common
arrangements. The first arrangement is known as body-centered cubic. In this arrangement, each
atom is positioned at the center of eight others. The other is known as face-centered cubic. In this
arrangement, each atom is positioned in the center of six others. The ongoing arrangement of atoms
in these structures forms a crystal. Some metals adopt both structures depending on the
temperature.
[5]

Atoms of metals readily lose their outer shell electrons, resulting in a free flowing cloud of electrons
within their otherwise solid arrangement. This provides the ability of metallic substances to easily
transmit heat and electricity. While this flow of electrons occurs, the solid characteristic of the metal
is produced by electrostatic interactions between each atom and the electron cloud. This type of
bond is called a metallic bond.
[6]

Properties[edit]
Chemical[edit]
Metals are usually inclined to form cations through electron loss,
[6]
reacting with oxygen in the air to
form oxides over various timescales (iron rusts over years, while potassium burns in seconds).
Examples:
4 Na + O
2
2 Na
2
O (sodium oxide)
2 Ca + O
2
2 CaO (calcium oxide)
4 Al + 3 O
2
2 Al
2
O
3
(aluminium oxide).
The transition metals (such as iron, copper, zinc, and nickel) are slower to oxidize
because they form passivating layer of oxide that protects the interior. Others,
like palladium, platinum and gold, do not react with the atmosphere at all. Some metals
form a barrier layer of oxide on their surface which cannot be penetrated by further
oxygen molecules and thus retain their shiny appearance and good conductivity for
many decades (like aluminium, magnesium, some steels, and titanium). Theoxides of
metals are generally basic, as opposed to those of nonmetals, which are acidic. Blatant
exceptions are largely oxides with very high oxidation states such as CrO
3
, Mn
2
O
7
, and
OsO
4
, which have strictly acidic reactions.
Painting, anodizing or plating metals are good ways to prevent their corrosion. However,
a more reactive metal in the electrochemical series must be chosen for coating,
especially when chipping of the coating is expected. Water and the two metals form
an electrochemical cell, and if the coating is less reactive than the coatee, the coating
actually promotes corrosion.
Physical[edit]