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What Are Three General Characteristics of Metal?

A pure metal is an element. Seventy elements on the periodic table are in fact metallic; 39 of them get used commercially. A metal alloy is a chemical combination of one or more metals that may also include other non-metal chemicals. Steel is an iron alloy, while bronze and brass are both copper alloys. Metals share few characteristics really in common; rather, their differences are what make them useful for such a wide variety of purposes.

Ferrous vs. Non-Ferrous Metals
- All metals fall into the categories of either ferrous or non-ferrous. Ferrous means they have iron in them and includes types of iron, steel and other iron alloys such as cast iron, pig iron, white iron, wrought iron, carbon steel, tool steel, alloy steel and carbon steel. They contain not only iron but carbon, sulfur, silicon, phosphorous and manganese. Non-ferrous metals include copper, magnesium, titanium and aluminum and their alloys.
Conductivity
- The ability to conduct electricity is the chief characteristic that distinguishes metallic minerals from non-metallic minerals, or rocks. Welders also pay attention to thermal conductivity, which is its ability to conduct heat. Metals that conduct heat easily require less time and energy to heat effectively enough to weld. Silver is the most highly conductive of all metals, followed by copper. Aluminum is also very conductive, followed by brass, tungsten and zinc at much lower levels.
Strength
- One way that metals are differentiated is according to their strength. The strongest known pure metal is tungsten-molybdenum, followed by titanium and nickel. Iron by itself is not very strong, but when mixed with carbon to form steel it becomes very strong. The three types of strength a metal may be tested for are tensile strength, its ability to resist being pulled apart end from end; shear strength, where pressure is exerted from two different sides to try to snap it; and compressive strength, its ability to not be bent or flattened by pressure from one side only.
Hardness
- There are a lot of metal characteristics that relate to hardness. Ductility, malleability and plasticity all relate to how easy it is to shape and form it. Elasticity is its ability to return to its original shape when distorted, such as a spring does. "Tough" metal has enough elasticity and strength to resist failure under considerable pressure; "brittle" metal is very hard but not very strong, so that it breaks easily. Hardness itself is defined as a metal's ability to resist denting and marking.

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