What Are Metals?

Metals combine hardness, strength, and rigidity, yet they can be shaped and cut with relative ease. Their discovery and use revolutionized human life, transforming hunting, agriculture, and transportation. The development of metal tools and weapons marked a turning point in human progress, while later innovations — such as steel rails and vehicles — made industrial transportation possible.

Modern aerospace technology relies on light metals like titanium, which provides exceptional strength at high temperatures. Without the electrical properties of metals, electrical communication systems and computers would not exist. Even ordinary light bulbs depend on metallic technology — their tungsten filaments can emit bright, hot light for thousands of hours without breaking.

Deadly Craftsmanship

Early blacksmiths mastered the art of hammering steel into precise shapes and proportions, producing blades that were both sharp and durable. The first metal used by humans was likely native copper — small pure pieces found naturally in rocks about 8,000 years ago. Precious metals such as gold, mined in places like Japan, were treasured by rulers and elites for their rarity and symbolic brilliance.

Valuable Materials

It was not until about 6,000 years ago, with the discovery of smelting — the process of extracting metal from ore using fire — that humans could produce metals in large quantities. Among these, iron became the most widely used, usually in the form of steel, while aluminum, though abundant, requires significant electrical energy to extract. Copper was the first metal to be used and remains vital for electrical applications. Zinc contributes to valuable alloys such as brass, and tin, a soft and pliable metal that resists rust, is often used to coat steel in the manufacture of cans.

Through metallurgy — the science and art of working with metals — humanity gained control over materials that continue to shape the modern world, from ancient tools to skyscrapers, aircraft, and electronics.