Introduction To Metals

What is a metal?

Metals may be described as substances having a ‘metallic’ lustre and are usually malleable, ductile, of high specific gravity and are good conductors of heat and electricity, although some materials classified as metals may lack some of these properties.

Common metals are iron (steel), copper, lead, aluminium etc. Metals usually occur as components of an ‘ore’ in the earths crust and need separation and refining to allow their use. Metals may be combined with other metals to form ‘alloys’.

Pure materials are known as ‘Elements’ and consist of atoms that are a collection of particles held together by various bonds these particles are known as protons, neutrons and electrons.

The number of protons and electrons determine the type of element, each having a different number. An element is a pure material that cannot be separated into a simpler substance. There are 94 naturally occurring elements and around another 20* that can be made artificially.