75% of the known chemical elements are categorized as metals but there are five types of metals on the Periodic Table of Elements that are distinct. There are 94 total metals listed on the table. Metals are dense, malleable, and generally have luster as well as good conductors of heat and electricity. These are the characteristics that group metals together. So what are these distinct metals? Let’s look at a few!

Alkali metals such as lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, caesium, and francium, all found on the left side of the first column of the table. These metals are soft and highly reactive. They have one electron in their outer sub-shell.

Alkaline earth metals are found in the second column on the left of the table and are generally harder and denser than alkali metals. They also have two electrons in their outer sub-shell and they make a distinguished color in flames. These six metals are beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, and radium.

Other metals, listed on the table toward the right of the main body of the table, are occasionally called semimetals or post-transition metals. They are softer than other metals and have a lower melting point. Depending on the table you’re looking at there could be between 8 and 14 metals listed as not all scientists agree which elements belong in this category. These metals are aluminum, bismuth, indium, lead, and tin.

There are two other basic metal types on the Period Table that we will go over in part two. The metals on the table can be further broken down by their other properties so continue exploring the table and try checking out element examples from the various types of elements.

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