Question

What properties do metals have in common?

Answer 1

Hint: As we know that a metal is a material or a substance that shows a lustrous appearance when freshly prepared or polished and conducts electricity and heat relatively. Majority elements in the periodic table are metals which include alkali metals, transition metals, lanthanides, actinides and alkaline earth metals.

Complete answer:
Let us discuss the properties that all metals have in common:-
-Metals have relatively high melting points and are hard solid at room temperature.
-Most metals are good conductors of heat and electricity and because of which metals like iron, copper and aluminum are used for pots and pans and as well as electric heaters and rods..
-Metals are generally lustrous which is because they reflect most of the light that strikes them.
-The majority of metals are ductile which means that they can be turned into long, thin wire shapes such as the aluminum electric wires, copper wires, etc.
-Metals are generally malleable which means that they can be formed into thin sheets without breaking. Most common examples are: aluminum foil, silver and golden sheets, etc.
-Various metals are used to make alloys so as to obtain a substance with better properties.
-Metals are good reducing agents and generally have low electronegativities.
-They actually form basic oxides and tend to lose electrons.

Note:
Few exceptions to these properties of metals are as follows:-
-Mercury and gallium are liquid at temperature even after being metals and hence they do have low melting points.
-Metals generally sink in water due to high density in water except lithium, sodium and potassium.
-Metals are generally hard in nature but sodium and potassium are so soft that they can be easily cut down by a knife.