metal

Metals are a class of elements characterized by metallic bonding, which gives them distinctive properties such as high electrical and thermal conductivity, luster, malleability and ductility. They are typically strong, dense, and capable of being shaped without breaking. In reactions, most metals tend to lose electrons to form cations and basic oxides. Metals are found in minerals and are extracted from ores by mining and processing, often involving reduction with carbon or electrolysis of melted compounds.

Metals are usually divided into several groups: alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, transition metals, post-transition metals, and the lanthanide and actinide series. The majority of elements used in industry are transition metals, which include iron, copper, nickel, titanium and many others. Post-transition metals such as tin, lead and zinc are often more brittle or have different properties. Alloys—combinations of two or more elements, typically including a metal—are widely used to enhance strength, hardness, or durability; well-known examples include steel (iron and carbon with other elements), bronze (copper and tin), and aluminum alloys.

Applications span construction, transportation, electronics, energy, and everyday goods. Metals can be light or heavy, resistant or reactive, depending on composition and treatment. They are a major subject of materials science and engineering, and their mining and processing have significant environmental and economic implications. The word metal is also used in music to denote a genre characterized by amplified guitars and aggressive vocal styles, though this cultural usage is separate from the chemical material.