Metals

Properties of Metals
 Physical Properties of Metals
1. Ductile
2. Malleable
3. Good conductors of electricity
4. Good conductors of heat
5. Shiny
6. High melting points & boiling points
7. High density
8. Strength
 Structure of Metals
• Metals are generally solids.
[Recall: Particulate Models of Matter]
• Simplified diagram of a metal:
 Ductile

• Ductility is a physical property of a material

associated with the ability to be hammered
thin or stretched into wire without breaking. A
ductile substance can be drawn into a wire.
Examples: Most metals are good examples of
ductile materials
Why?..
 Malleability
• Malleability is a physical
property of metals that
defines the ability to be
hammered, pressed, or
rolled into thin sheets
without breaking. In
other words, it is the
property of a metal to
deform under
compression onto a
different form.
 Good conductors of electricity

• copper is used for

electrical wiring because
it is a good conductor of
electricity. Metal particles
are held together by
strong metallic bonds,
which is why they have
high melting and boiling
points. The free electrons
in metals can move
through the metal,
allowing metals to
conduct electricity.
 Are good conductors of heat
• Metals are good
conductors of heat.
There are two reasons
for this: the close
packing of the metal
ions in the lattice. the
delocalised electrons
can carry kinetic energy
through the lattice.
• Some metals are used to
make items like coins
because they are hard
and will not wear away
quickly. For example
copper (which
is shiny and red in color),
aluminium (which
is shiny and white), gold
(which is yellow
and shiny), and silver and
nickel (also white
andshiny).
 high melting and boiling points.

• Metallic bonding is the

strong attraction between
closely packed positive
metal ions and a 'sea' of
delocalised electrons. The
attraction between the
metal ions and the
delocalised electrons must
be overcome to melt or to
boil a metal. ... These
attractive forces are strong,
so metals have high melting
and boiling points.
 High Density
• . Density is a measure
of the amount of matter
in a substance. It is
defined as the mass of
an object divided by its
volume. D = mass /
volume
 Strength

• There are a number of

metals which can be
considered “the
strongest”. Of course, this
depends greatly on the
intended application of
the metal. Another
consideration is the
various alloys that can be
formed with each metal.
• So… What have we
learnt?
• Thank you