Which statement best describes metals?

Which statement best describes metals?

• A. Metals are gases at room temperature.
• B. Metals are defined as non-crystalline polymers.
• C. Metals are large collections of crystals held together by metallic bonds and form a class of elements or compounds.
• D. Metals are a type of ceramic with ionic bonds.

Answer: (C)

Metals are characterized by crystalline structures held together by metallic bonds. In metallic bonding, electrons are delocalized, forming a sea of electrons that glues the positively charged ion cores into a lattice. This arrangement creates solids with orderly, repeating structures and explains many metal properties such as electrical conductivity, malleability, and ductility. Metals can be elemental or present as alloys and intermetallic compounds, so describing them as a class of elements or compounds with crystalline lattices bound by metallic bonds fits well. The other statements misstate metals: they are not gases at room temperature, they are not non-crystalline polymers, and they are not ceramics with ionic bonds.

Metals are characterized by crystalline structures held together by metallic bonds. In metallic bonding, electrons are delocalized, forming a sea of electrons that glues the positively charged ion cores into a lattice. This arrangement creates solids with orderly, repeating structures and explains many metal properties such as electrical conductivity, malleability, and ductility. Metals can be elemental or present as alloys and intermetallic compounds, so describing them as a class of elements or compounds with crystalline lattices bound by metallic bonds fits well. The other statements misstate metals: they are not gases at room temperature, they are not non-crystalline polymers, and they are not ceramics with ionic bonds.