Lesson 1: What are metals?

 A substance that transfers heat and electricity well and is malleable

 A substance that does not transfer heat and electricity well and is not malleable

 Easy to shape or to form

AA solid solution in which a metal or a nonmetal dissolves in a metal

AA substance that has some of the properties of a metal and some of the properties of a nonmetal

 Metals are a good conductor of heat and electricity because they heat up quickly, and electricity passes through them quickly.  75% of all elements are metals.  Metals, with the exception of hydrogen, are located on the left side of the periodic table.  Nonmetals are located on the far right side.  If a substance looks like a metal it is called metallic. They often reflect light and are often shiny. Most metals are grey or silver in color.  In addition, metals are malleable, which means they are easily shaped or formed.

 Elements that are in the same column of the periodic table are called a family.  This means that they are related, just like members of a real family.  Also most elements in the same family have the same physical properties.

 Metals that are good conductors of heat have a high thermal conductivity.  Metals that are good conductors of electricity have a high electrical conductivity.  Materials that do not conduct heat or electricity well are called insulators.

 Atoms are small. 20 million large atoms placed side by side would only measure one centimeter.  These small atoms are visible with an electron microscope.  Another type of microscope called scanning tunneling microscope (STM), uses a probe to examine the surface of a material.  Today, scientists can use STMs to check for flaws in materials and observe molecules.

 An alloy is formed by combining metals or by combining a metal and a nonmetal.  Metalloids, or semimetals, are elements that contain properties of metal and some nonmetals.

Properties of Metals (0:49) 5eU Periodic Table Song (3:36) tpY