The five most used metals are:
1. Iron
2. Aluminium
3. Copper
4. Zinc
5. Magnesium
The general physical properties of metals are:
* They are strong and hard.
* They are solids at room temperature (except for Mercury, which is the only metal to be liquid at room temperature.)
* They have a shiny lustre when polished.
* They make good heat conductors and electrical conductors.
* They are dense.
* They produce a sonorous sound when struck.
* They have high melting points.
* They have high boiling points.
* They are malleable.
The properties of metals make them suitable for different uses in daily life.
* Copper is a good conductor of electricity and is ductile. Therefore, it is used for electrical cables.
* Gold and silver are very malleable, ductile and very nonreactive. Gold and silver are used to make intricate jewelry. Gold is especially suitable for this purpose since it does not tarnish. Gold can also be used for oxidation-free electrical connections.
* Iron and steel are both hard and strong. Therefore, they are used to construct bridges and buildings. A disadvantage of using iron is that it tends to rust, whereas most steels rust, but they can be formulated to be rust free.
* Aluminum is a good conductor of heat and is malleable. It is used to make saucepans and foil, and also aeroplane bodies as it has a low density(compared to other metals).
Pure elemental metals are often too soft to be of practical use, which is why much of metallurgy focuses on the formulation of useful alloys.