Metal (chemistry)
A chemical element whose atoms typically form positive ions and whose solid form exhibits metallic bonding, electrical conductivity, and lustre.
Metallic bonding: Chemical bonding in metals, in which delocalized electrons bind a lattice of positive atomic cores. It accounts for metals’ cohesion, electrical conductivity, and ability to deform.
Oxidation state: A bookkeeping number representing an atom’s apparent charge in a compound under specified electron-allocation rules. Positive oxidation states commonly describe metal atoms after electron loss in compounds.
Metallurgy: The science and technology of extracting, refining, shaping, and treating metals. It turns elemental metal properties into usable materials and products.
Nonmetal: A chemical element that generally lacks the characteristic bonding and physical properties of metals. Nonmetals commonly form anions or covalent bonds rather than metallic lattices.
Valence electron: An electron in an atom’s outer shell that can participate in bonding or ion formation. Metal atoms’ relatively available valence electrons enable metallic bonding and positive ions.
Electrochemical series: An ordering of redox couples by standard electrode potential under specified conditions. It compares how readily different metals are oxidized or reduced.
Alloy: A material containing a metal and one or more additional elements, often designed to alter its properties. Combining metals with other elements can improve strength, hardness, or corrosion resistance.
Metalloid: An element with a mixture of metallic and nonmetallic properties, often including semiconducting behavior. Metalloids occupy a chemically and physically intermediate position between metals and nonmetals.
Crystal structure: The ordered, repeating arrangement of atoms, ions, or molecules in a crystalline solid. Metallic solids adopt crystal lattices that help determine their mechanical and physical properties.
Metal corrosion: The deterioration of a metal through chemical or electrochemical reactions with its environment. Corrosion is a familiar outcome of metal oxidation outside the elemental state.