International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) Chemistry Practice Exam

Which region of the Periodic Table contains metals?

1. Top right

2. Center

3. Left

4. Bottom

The correct answer is: Left

The left region of the Periodic Table predominantly contains metals because this area includes the alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, and some transition metals. Metals are characterized by their high electrical and thermal conductivity, malleability, ductility, and shiny appearance. In contrast, the top right of the Periodic Table primarily consists of nonmetals, which have different physical properties, such as being poor conductors of heat and electricity. The center of the table includes transition metals, but it is not exclusively metals and contains some metalloid elements as well. The bottom region features the lanthanides and actinides, which are also metals; however, they are more specialized and less commonly encountered than the metals found in the left section. Thus, the left section is the most representative area for identifying metals on the Periodic Table.