Why is hydrogen a metal? It is not even strictly electropositive? exact defn of metals ?

Answer 1

It is a metal except it has to be solid hydrogen in order for the metallic properties common to all metals to appear. Just think of it this way, if you heat lead op enough for it to become a gas, that gas has absolutely no resemblance to a metal except for its electron properties, for example the gas doesn't conduct heat or electricity well, which is a one of the definitions of a metal, that lead gas is the exact same thing as hydrogen which shows no resemblance to a metal under normal temperatures and pressures, but if you cool it down to its freezing point it becomes metallic hydrogen which hypothetically would conduct electricity and heat well, would be malleable, would be dense and also would show evidence of metallic bonding, or in other words would be a metal

Answer 2

That last answer was embarassing. Hydrogen is not a noble gas. I think you are confusing it with Helium. Helium, Neon, Xeon and Argon are noble gases. Hydrogen, Oxygen, and Nitrogen are not.

The explanation by mathwiz1 about Hydrogen having the properties of a metal when it is solid is pretty good. The only thing I would add is that it would exhibit metallic properties as a liquid as well. Mercury for example, has no trouble conducting heat or electricity as a liquid and neither do aluminium, copper or iron. I realize that it is more difficult to think about a metal being a good conducter of heat when it is molten or at cryogenic temperatures. Hydrogen should be much like Mercury when liquid but obviously much less dense. In fact, research has shown that liquid hydrogen does conduct electricity however it only turns into a metallic state at a high enough pressure. Lawrence Livermore was about to create liquid metallic hydrogen at 5000 degrees F and 1.4 Million atmospheres of presssure. This appears to confirm that liquid metallic hydrogen could exist in the gas giant planets. At lower temperatures, hydrogen would turn solid.

Answer 3

If hydrogen gas is frozen at -259.14 degrees Celsius it forms a solid non-metallic form. If it is then put under increased pressures it changes into a metallic form so that the electrons become dissociated with any particular atom and a current of electrons can flow.

So hydrogen is a metal under very low temperatures and increased pressure.

A metal is a substance in which the electrons become disassociated with their source atoms and are shared in a sea of electrons with all of the atoms of that element or alloy.

Answer 4

Scientists refer to the heavier elements, like maybe from oxygen on up, as "metals", for convenience's sake, probably. Hydrogen is not a metal. Ionized hydrogen is electropositive - that would be a proton.

Answer 5

It isn't. It's in group 1 but isn't classed as a metal. In fact, it's listed as a NONmetal. Metals start with Lithium. Hydrogen has properties of a halide, as well as a metal. It's unique.

Answer 6

Hydrogen is not a metal, it is a gas. Look at your periodic table

Answer 7

According to the Periodic Table, Hydrogen (H) is a gas.

The reason why Hydrogen (H) is on the top left-hand corner of the Table is because it only has one electron.

Answer 8

It's a metal when it gives up an electron and a nonmetal when it accepts an electron. That's why it shows up at both sides of the periodic table.

Answer 9

Hydrogen is not a metal, it is a gas. It is located right above the row of alkali metals, but it is not an alkali metal.

Answer 10

mathwhicz has an interesting answer.

Hydrogen is in its place because it tends to form ions with a +1 charge, which is unique to that Group of elements. It can also form -1 ions (hydrides) and so I've seen periodic tables where it is placed over the halogens.