more than half of the elements are metals. what does that mean? how do they get that classification? and some metals aren't even elements. they are compounds like steel. why are those metals?
2007-01-25 07:22:34 · 5 answers · asked by JizZ E. Jizzy 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Metals have 3 or less valence electrons. They can hold together with 'metallic bonds (gives them metal characteristics like malleability, ductile, conductors, etc.).
Steel and others like this are 'alloys', mixtures of metals, not compounds
Get an "A".
2007-01-25 13:37:12 · answer #1 · answered by teachr 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On the Periodic table ofthe elements, the metals are the elements on the left side of the chart. They have 1, 2 or 3 electrons in the outer level - that means that when they combine with other elements, they probably will give away electrons rather than borrow. So, a metal like sodium will combine with a non-metal like chlorine. The sodium will loan an electron to the chlorine and they will then be ions - Na with a positive charge and Cl with a negative charge.
Metals are malleable (you can hammer then into thin flat sheets), ductile (you can draw them out into wires) they reflect light and they can conduct electricity.
There are lots of materials that we call "metal" that are combinations of different metallic elements - like the metal 'bronze' being a combination of tin and copper.
2007-01-25 15:43:15 · answer #2 · answered by matt 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
An element is calssified as a metal based on its chemical properties (conduct electricity; tend to be bendable rather than brittle; exhibit metallic bonding when in pure elemental form; tend to donate, rather than accept, electrons, have a shiny luster). It just so happens that the majority of the elements fit this bill. Alloys such as steel are still considered metallic because they are composed of metallic elements and thus still exhibit metallic properties.
2007-01-25 15:43:02 · answer #3 · answered by stickboy_127 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The traditional definition focuses on the bulk properties of metals. They tend to be lustrous, ductile, malleable, and good conductors of electricity.
A modern definition of metals is that they have overlapping conduction bands and valence bands in their electronic structure.
Read all about metals at wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal
2007-01-25 15:37:42 · answer #4 · answered by Dr Dave P 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It all comes down to their chemichal and physical properties.
2007-01-25 15:28:06 · answer #5 · answered by rct28 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋