Properties of Metals

If you look around you, you'll see metals used to make a lot of different things. Metals can do lots of interesting things that other materials can't. Some of these properties are:

• Malleability (MAL-ee-ah-bill-i-tee) and ductility (duck-TILL-i-tee): the ability of metals to be pounded into very thin sheets (malleability) or stretched out into wires (ductility) without breaking.
• Luster: metals tend to be shiny
• Electrical conductivity: the ability of metals to let electrical currents pass through
• Thermal conductivity: the ability of metals to transport heat
• Chemical reactivity: some metals react easily; others hardly react at all

You'll do some activities and experiments that illustrate these properties as this month goes on.