Form and structure
Metals are shiny and lustrous, at least when freshly prepared, polished, or fractured. Sheets of metal thicker than a few See more

An alloy is a substance having metallic properties and which is composed of two or more elements at least one of which is a metal. An alloy may have a variable or fixed composition. For example, gold and silver form an alloy in which the proportions of gold … See more

Metals can be categorised according to their physical or chemical properties. Categories described in the subsections below include See more

The role of metallic elements in the evolution of cell biochemistry has been reviewed, including a detailed section on the role of See more

The elements that form metallic structures under ordinary conditions are shown in yellow on the periodic table below. The remaining elements either form giant covalent See more

Formation
This sub-section deals with the formation of periodic table elemental metals since these form the … See more

Prehistory
Copper, which occurs in native form, may have been the first metal discovered given its distinctive appearance, heaviness, and malleability compared to other stones or pebbles. Gold, silver, and iron (as meteoric iron), and … See more