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

• A. They tend to lose electrons to form positive ions.
• B. They react with acids to produce hydrogen gas.
• C. They are poor conductors of electricity.
• D. They have low melting points.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that chemical properties describe how a substance reacts or changes during a chemical reaction, unlike physical properties which describe appearance or state.
2. Recall that metals typically have a tendency to lose electrons during chemical reactions, forming positive ions (cations). This is a key chemical property of metals.
3. Recognize that metals often react with acids to produce hydrogen gas, which is a specific example of their chemical reactivity.
4. Note that being poor conductors of electricity and having low melting points are physical properties, not chemical properties, and these do not generally describe metals.
5. Conclude that the typical chemical property of metals is their tendency to lose electrons and form positive ions, which explains their behavior in many chemical reactions.