PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF METALS

1. MELTING POINT AND BOILING POINT

1.1. Metals have high melting and boiling points.

1.2. Tungsten has the highest melting and boiling points whereas mercury has the lowest.

1.3. Sodium and potassium also have low melting points.

2. SONORITY

2.1. Metals have the property of producing a ringing sound when they are struck.

3. MALLEABILITY

3.1. Metals have the ability to withstand hammering and can be made into thin sheets known as foils.

3.2. For example, a sugar cube sized chunk of gold can be pounded into a thin sheet that will cover a football field.

4. DUCTILITY

4.1. Metals can be drawn into wires.

4.2. For example, 100 g of silver can be drawn into a thin wire about 200 meters long.

5. CONDUCTION

5.1. Metals are good conductors of heat and electricity because they have free electrons.

5.2. Best conductors of heat

5.2.1. Copper, Aluminum

5.3. Best conductors of electricity

5.3.1. Silver, Copper

5.4. Poor conductors of heat and electricity

5.4.1. Lead is the poorest conductor of heat. Bismuth, mercury and iron are also poor conductors

6. HARDNESS

6.1. All metals are hard.

6.2. Sodium and potassium are soft and can be cut with a knife.

7. LUSTER

7.1. Metals have the quality of reflecting light from their surface and can be polished e.g., gold, silver and copper.

8. PHYSICAL STATE

8.1. Metals are solid at room temperature.

8.2. Exceptions

8.2.1. Mercury

9. DENSITY

9.1. Metals have high density and are very heavy.

9.2. Iridium and osmium have the highest densities whereas lithium has the lowest density.