An atom's structure consists of a dense, positively charged nucleus at the center, made of protons and neutrons, and negatively charged electrons orbiting the nucleus in shells or orbitals. The number of protons in the nucleus determines the element's atomic number, while a neutral atom has an equal number of protons and electrons. Electrons exist in specific energy levels, governed by quantum mechanics, and their arrangement determines the atom's chemical properties.
Metals typically have properties like luster, malleability, and ductility, making them shiny, able to be hammered into thin sheets, and drawn into wires, respectively. They are also excellent conductors of heat and electricity, have high melting and boiling points, and are generally solid at room temperature (except for mercury).
An atom is the basic building block of all ordinary matter, consisting of a dense central nucleus surrounded by a cloud of negatively charged electrons. The nucleus is made of positively charged protons and neutral neutrons. Atoms of different elements have different numbers of protons, which defines the element, such as carbon or oxygen.
The three most common states of matter are solid, liquid, and gas, while a fourth, plasma, is also fundamental. Solids have a definite shape and volume, liquids have a definite volume but take the shape of their container, and gases have no definite shape or volume. Plasma, often found in stars and lightning, consists of super-excited particles.
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