A metal is a solid material (an element, compound, or alloy) that is typically hard, opaque, shiny, and features good electrical and thermal conductivity. Metals are generally malleable—that is, they can be hammered or pressed permanently out of shape without breaking or cracking—as well as fusible (able to be fused or melted) and ductile (able to be drawn out into a thin wire).
Currently, 91 out of the 118 total elements on the periodic table are classified as metals.
Barium is the fifth chemical element in the periodic table of elements with the atomic number 56. Being a member of the alkaline earth metals family, this soft metal is divalent, electropositive, and reactive, and supports the formation of many compounds with other chemical elements, especially carbon, oxygen, and sulphur. Due to its high reactivity, … Read more
Strontium is a chemical element with atomic number 38 in the periodic table. It’s the 15th most plentiful metal found in Earth’s crust with 0.034% ppm natural occurrence. Being a member of the alkaline earth metals group of the periodic table, this lithophile metallic element has two valence electrons present in the outermost shell. Strontium … Read more
Calcium is a chemical element with an atomic number of 20 in the periodic table of elements. It’s the fifth most plentiful metal found in Earth’s crust and the most abundant mineral in the human body. Being a member of the alkali earth metals family of periodic table elements, this chemical substance has two valence … Read more
Francium (Fr) is a chemical element with an atomic number of 87 in the periodic table of elements. It’s found in the amount of only 24.5 grams (0.86 ounces) at any time in Earth’s crust. Being a member of the alkali family group of the periodic table, this intensely radioactive substance is the heaviest chemical … Read more
Caesium is a chemical element with an atomic number of 55 in the periodic table of elements. It’s the 45th most abundant element in Earth’s crust. Being a member of the alkali metals family of periodic table elements, caesium has been classified as one of the incompatible elements. Caesium has eight valence electrons that make … Read more
Rubidium is a chemical element with the atomic number 37 in the periodic table. With an occurrence of 90 parts per million by weight, it’s the 25th most abundant chemical element found in Earth’s crust. As a member of the alkali group of metals, this soft, silvery-white chemical has one valence electron positioned in the … Read more
Potassium is a chemical element with the atomic number 19 in the periodic table of elements. With about 2.0 to 2.5 percent occurrence in the Earth’s crust, it’s the eighth most abundant element found in the layers of our planet. As a member of the alkali metals family in the periodic table, potassium has one … Read more
Magnesium is a chemical element with the atomic number 12 in the periodic table. Born in the Universe from supernovas of aged stars, the occurrence of this element amounts to 2.5% of Earth’s crust, mainly as a part of the magnesium oxide compound. Magnesium is also found in Earth’s mantle. As a member of the … Read more
Sodium is a chemical element with atomic number 11 in the periodic table. It’s the fourth most abundant element and comprises around 2.6% of Earth’s crust. Being a member of the alkali metals family of the periodic table, this monoisotopic element has one valence electron that makes it one of the most reactive elements in … Read more
Beryllium is a chemical element with the symbol Be and atomic number 4 in the periodic table of elements. It occurs in a quantity from 2 to 6 parts per million (ppm) in the Earth’s crust, i.e. 2.8 milligrams per kilogram of the elemental form of beryllium. This lightest member of the alkaline earth metals … Read more