Which of the following is a common chemical property of metals?

• A. They readily gain electrons to form negative ions.
• B. They are generally poor conductors of electricity.
• C. They tend to lose electrons to form positive ions.
• D. They do not react with acids.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand what a chemical property is: it describes how a substance reacts chemically with other substances, often involving electron transfer or bond formation.
2. Recall the general behavior of metals in chemical reactions: metals tend to lose electrons rather than gain them, forming positive ions (cations).
3. Analyze each option in terms of typical metal behavior: metals do not usually gain electrons to form negative ions; instead, they lose electrons.
4. Consider electrical conductivity: metals are generally good conductors of electricity, so the statement about poor conductivity is incorrect.
5. Recognize that metals often react with acids, producing hydrogen gas and metal salts, so the statement about not reacting with acids is false.