Explain about the salient features of metals.

Explanation

(i) Metals comprise more than 78% of all known elements. They are present on the left side of the periodic table.
(ii) They are usually solids at room temperature. [Mercury is an exception (Hg-liquid), gallium (303K) and cesium (302K) also have very low melting points).
(iii) Metals usually have high melting and boiling points.
(iv) They are good conductors of heat and electricity.
(v) They are malleable and ductile, and also can be flattened into thin sheets by hammering and drawn into thin wires.