You can see and touch metals used in things like drink cans and bikes. Metals also make it possible for you to switch on a light. Your computer uses metals to work and there is even metal in the paint on your walls.

 

 

 

 

Electricity flows easily through some metals.

Electricity only flows easily through some materials. It cannot flow through wood or plastic. But it can flow through some metals, such as copper. These metals are called conductors. Many electrical wires are made from copper. Without metals, we could not use electricity as we do today.

 

 

 

 

 

What would happen if you had a wooden saucepan?

Many materials catch fire easily. A wooden saucepan would burn if it was heated. A metal saucepan gets hot but does not melt. Metal is a good conductor of heat. It lets heat through, but doesn’t burn unless it is extremely hot.

 

 

 

 

 

Mercury is a runny metal.

Mercury is the only metal that stays as a liquid at room temperature. This silver-coloured metal used to be called quicksilver because of the way it runs and flows. Mercury changes shape when it heats up or cools down. Because of this it can be used in thermometers to measure temperature.