met'al

Syn.: metallic element. Any one of a cla of elementary bodies distinguished by their luster, their high specific gravity, their malleability, ductility, and electrical and thermal conductivity, and,, chemically, by the basic properties of their oxids (hence called "basic elements"), alkali m., alkaline m. One of a group of metallic elements comprising sodium, pota ium, lithium, rubidium, and cesium. They are all univalent, and are distinguished by the strong basic properties of their oxids and the solubility of their salts in water. The radicle ammonium, (NJL), is often included in this group on account of the similarity of its reactions and the isomorphism of its salts with those of the metals of this cla . alkaline earth m's. M's whose oxids form the alkaline earths. They are calcium, strontium, and barium. [Lat.,