Includes bibliographical references and index.

Chemicals in action -- About metals -- Properties of metals -- Physical properties -- Metals and heat -- Families of metals -- The transition metals -- More transition metals -- Other metals and metalloids -- Metals and air -- Metals and acids -- Metals and water -- Corrosion -- Finding metals -- Extraction reactions -- Electrolysis -- The iron and steel industry -- Working with metals -- The periodic table -- Common elements -- The reactivity series.

Provides an introduction to metals, including their physical properties, their place in the periodic table, their uses in everyday life, and how they react with other substances. Includes experiments.