Properties of Metals
Design & Technology: AQA GCSE, topic 4.6.1
Properties of Metals
Metals have a number of basic properties.
High electrical and thermal conductivity
- Metals are excellent conductors of electricity.
- The presence of free electrons allows electric current to flow through them.
- Metals are good conductors of heat.
- Metals can transfer heat from one point to another.
Solid state at room temperature
- With a few exceptions, metals are in a solid state at room temperature.
- Mercury is an exception as it is liquid at room temperature.
Malleability and ductility
- Metals are malleable.
- Metals can be hammered, rolled, or pressed into thin sheets.
- Malleability is the ability of metal atoms to rearrange without fracturing.
- Metals are ductile.
- Metals can be drawn into thin wires without losing their integrity.
- Ductility is useful for electrical wiring.
High melting and boiling points
- Metals generally have high melting and boiling points compared to non-metals.
- This makes metals useful for applications in high temperatures.
Lustre and tensile strength
- Most metals have a characteristic shine or lustre.
- This is because metals reflect light.
- Metals possess high tensile strength.
- This means metals can withstand a significant amount of pulling or stretching before breaking.
Density and opacity
- Metals are typically dense materials.
- This means metals have a high mass per unit volume.
- Metals are usually opaque.
- This means metals do not allow light to pass through them.
Test yourself on Properties of Metals
What property means metals do not allow light to pass through them?
What property means metals have a high mass per unit volume?