Metals occur mainly on the left-hand side of the periodic table. Group 1 contains the alkali metals, and Group 2 the alkaline earth metals. The transition metals , lanthanides, and actinides are all metallic elements. Although a few metals are found uncombined, most occur naturally as their oxides or sulphides. Many of these can be reduced to the metals by carbon, but for reactive metals electrolysis is needed.
Metals react with non-metals to form ionic compounds in which the metal becomes positively charged.
Many metals react with dilute acids, forming salts and giving off hydrogen. Metals can be mixed with other metals, and with some non-metals, to form alloys. Electrolysis Bloomsbury Guide to Human Thought 2. electrolysis A Dictionary of Science, Oxford University Press 3. The New Penguin Dictionary of Science 5. All rights reserved.