Inkoliso yee-metals zomelele, ziyakhazimla, zinobunzima kwaye zinyibilika kuphela xa zithe zatshiswa ngobushushu obuphezulu kakhulu. Ii-lumps ze-metal zenza ingxolo efana nokubethwa kwentsimbi xa zithe zatshiswa ngengento etshisa kakhulu (zi-sonorous). Ubushushu kunye nombane zihamba lula nge-metal (oko kuthetha okokuba zi-conductive). I-lump yemetal ingakhandwa ibe licwecwana (eliyi-malleable) okanye icudiswe ibe zingcingwana ezincinane (eziyi-ductile). Imetal yomelele ayinakuqhekezwa phakathi (ine-tensile strength ephezulu) ingenakutynyuzwa (inamandla oxinzelelo oluphezulu. Ukuba utyhala umsingizana wentwana ende ye-metal, iyakugoba, ingophuki (iyi-elastic).