Which property is typical of metals?

• A. Insulate Electricity and Are Brittle
• B. Conduct Electricity and Are Ductile
• C. Do Not Conduct Electricity and Are Soft
• D. Are Always Gaseous at Room Temperature

Answer: (B)

A key idea about metals is that they have free-moving electrons and bonds that let atoms slide past each other. Because of this, metals can conduct electricity and they are able to be drawn into wires, a property known as ductility. The sea of delocalized electrons moves easily and carries electric charge, which is why metals are good conductors. At the same time, the metallic bonds allow layers of atoms to move relative to one another without breaking the structure, so metals are ductile rather than brittle.

The other descriptions don’t fit metals as well. Insulating behavior and brittleness describe materials that don’t conduct electricity and tend to fracture rather than bend. Saying metals are non-conductive or are always gaseous at room temperature contradicts the common solid, conductive, and malleable nature of most metals.