Definition Of Physical Properties Of Metals

All metals exhibit certain characteristic properties such as ductility, luster, and malleability.

Metals differ so widely in hardness, ductility (the potentiality of being drawn into wire), malleability, tensile strength, density, and melting point
Mercury is liquid at room temperature and gallium melts on our hand while tungsten has a melting point of 3687K (3414 0C)
Most metals are highly lustrous (they shine very brightly) and sonorous (they produce sound when struck)
They differ in degree of ductility and malleability with gold being the most ductile while lead and tin being least ductile and malleable
Titanium has the highest tensile strength while pure iron has the least tensile strength
Many of them form alloys with other metals and non-metals which have many great uses ex: steel (alloy of iron and carbon), magnalium (alloy of magnesium and aluminum)
Metals like gold and silver have very good heat and electricity conducting properties while tin and lead are very poor conductors of heat and electricity
Metals like iridium and osmium have extremely high densities wile sodium and lithium float on water
Chromium is the hardest metal while sodium and lithium can be cut using a kitchen knife
Some elements like arsenic and antimony exhibit non-metal properties and are called metalloids
Some higher metals like uranium and plutonium exhibit radioactivity and are used in nuclear power plants
Some metals when bombarded with nuclear radiation give rise to new metals which themselves are very unstable and dissociate quickly into lower elements

1) Which one of the following metals is synthetic i.e. not found in the earth’s crust or atmosphere?

A)Technetium
B) Cesium
C)Bismuth
D)lanthanum

Answers: A

2) What is the composition of sodium amalgam?

A)sodium and iron
B)sodium and gallium
C)sodium and mercury
D)sodium and lithium

Answers: C

3) Which metal is used as filament in bulbs?

A) Iron
B) Tungsten
C)Osmium
D)Copper