List of Metals 5

The highlighted elements are considered the metal elements.

Most elements can be considered metals. They are grouped together in the middle to the left-hand side of the periodic table. The metals consist of the alkali metals, alkaline earths, transition metals, lanthanides, and actinides.

Properties of Metals

The metals share several common properties, including:

• solid at room temperature (with the exception of mercury)
• usually shiny
• high melting point
• good conductor of heat
• good conductor of electricity
• low ionization energies
• low electronegativities
• malleable – able to be pounded into sheets
• ductile – can be pulled into wire
• high density (exceptions: lithium, potassium, and sodium)
• corrodes in air or seawater
• loses electrons in reactions

*Bonus Fact* Under certain conditions hydrogen can act as a metal element. These conditions are typically found under extreme conditions such as high pressures or when frozen solid.

List of Metals

This is a list of metals in order of increasing atomic number.