Unit1Metals金属Theuseofmetalshasalwaysbeenakeyfactorinthedevelopmentofthesocialsystemsofman
Oftheroughly100basicelementsofwhichallmatteriscomposed,abouthalfareclassifiedasmetals
Thedistinctionbetweenametalandanonmetalisnotalwaysclear-cut
Themostbasicdefinitioncentersaroundthetypeofbondingexistingbetweentheatomsoftheelement,andaroundthecharacteristicsofcertainoftheelectronsassociatedwiththeseatoms
Inamorepracticalway,however,ametalcanbedefinedasanelementwhichhasaparticularpackageofproperties
Metalsarecrystallinewheninthesolidstateand,withfewexceptions(e
mercury),aresolidatambienttemperatures
Theyaregoodconductorsofheatandelectricityandareopaquetolight
Theyusuallyhaveacomparativelyhighdensity
Manymetalsareductile-thatis,theirshapecanbechangedpermanentlybytheapplicationofaforcewithoutbreaking