Properties of metallic substances

Metals are often shiny

The free electrons in metallic substances reflect light and make them shiny.

Copper can be made to look shiny.

Metallic substances are malleable

Metallic bonding allows molecules to slide over one another. This makes metals malleable which means they can be bent, hammered, pressed or rolled into shape without breaking or cracking.

Copper can be bent into shape.

This copper bowl has been hammered into shape.

Copper can be rolled into thin sheets.