What Properties Do All Metals Have?
Some physical properties that metals have in common are that they have luster, good thermal and electrical conductivity, high densities and melting points and are malleable. With the exception of mercury, most metals also are solid at room temperature.
On the periodic table, metals are found on the left-hand side, while non-metals are on the right-hand side. For example, with the exception of hydrogen, the alkali metals are in group I, and the alkaline earth metals are in group II. Hydrogen is a nonmetal that is found at the top of group I.
Metals also can have certain chemical properties in common like losing their valence electrons and having lower electronegativities. The nonmetals on the right side are not good conductors of either heat or electricity. Similarly, they are not shiny and can exist in different phases at room temperature.
