Metal is an element characterized by high electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, malleability, and a lustrous appearance. Atoms in a metallic crystal share a delocalized electron sea, forming metallic bonds that give metals their distinctive properties.
Common metals include iron, copper, aluminum, gold, silver, and zinc, each with unique roles in industry and biology. Iron is the backbone of steel production, while copper enables electrical wiring and plumbing infrastructure.
In biology, trace metals such as iron, zinc, and magnesium serve as cofactors in enzymes and proteins essential to metabolism. Alloys — combinations of two or more metals — unlock material properties that pure elements alone cannot achieve.
Metals are extracted from ore through mining and smelting, processes that shaped civilization from the Bronze Age onward. Recycling metals conserves energy and reduces the ecological footprint of extraction across the global supply chain.
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