Chemical elements that are typically hard, shiny, malleable, fusible, and ductile, with good electrical and thermal conductivity.
From Latin metallum, borrowed from Greek μέταλλον (metallon) meaning 'mine, quarry, metal'. The Greek word originally referred to mines or quarries before extending to the materials extracted from them.
Metals literally built civilization - the progression from Stone Age to Bronze Age to Iron Age reflects humanity's increasing mastery over these elements. What's fascinating is that most metals don't exist in pure form in nature; ancient metalworkers had to discover smelting through trial and error, essentially performing chemistry without understanding the underlying science.
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