The separation and processing of metals is called metallurgy. Despite the great variety of natural metals, engineers often require materials that have properties that none of the available metals have. Steel, for example, is an alloy of iron and carbon. Ion Iron, element Properties of Metals One of the chemical properties of metals is the tendency of metal oxides that are dissolved in water to dissociate into electrically charged ions. In solution the metallic ion has a positive electric charge.
Metallic ions play a fundamental role in many life processes.
Iron, for example, is central to the structure of hemoglobin, the blood component that carries oxygen from the lungs. Calcium and potassium ions are necessary for the transmission of impulses along the body's nerve cells. The physical properties of most metals include high density, or high mass per unit volume, and high strength, or the ability to resist being distorted from their original shape. Metals also have considerable elasticity. A metal spring can be stretched, for example, but when the load is removed, it contracts to its original length.