What elements are metals?
1 Answer
Most of the elements in the Periodic Table are metals.
The Periodic Table groups the elements as metals, metalloids, and nonmetals.
The 16 nonmetals (orange) are at the far right of the Periodic Table. The 7 metalloids (blue) form a zigzag group next to the nonmetals. The remaining 90 elements are the metals (green).
The exception is hydrogen (H), the first element on the periodic table. At ordinary temperatures and pressures, hydrogen behaves as a nonmetal. At extremely high pressures, hydrogen behaves as a metal.
Most metals share the following properties:
• Shiny "metallic" lustre
• Solid at room temperature (except mercury)
• High melting points
• High densities
• Large atomic radii
• Low ionization energies
• Low electronegativities
• Malleability — can be hammered into sheets
• Ductile — can be drawn into wires
• Good conductors of heat
• Good conductors of electricity
