Metal: definition in chemistry
Metal: An element, or a mixture of elements such as an alloy, that is typically shiny, conducts heat and electricity well and can be hammered or bent without breaking.
Metal atoms hold their outer electrons loosely, so in reactions they tend to lose them and form positive ions. In the solid, these loose electrons are shared through metallic bonding, which explains conductivity, luster and malleability. Roughly four out of five elements are metals, and almost all of them are solids at room temperature, mercury being the only liquid one.
Examples
- Copper — used in electrical wiring
- Iron — the main ingredient of steel
- Aluminum — light and corrosion-resistant, used in cans and aircraft
- Mercury — the only metal that is liquid at room temperature
On the periodic table
Metals occupy the left side and center of the table, to the left of the zigzag line of metalloids, and metallic character increases toward the bottom left.