Which of the following is a chemical property commonly associated with metals?

• A. They are generally poor conductors of electricity.
• B. They have low melting points.
• C. They tend to lose electrons to form positive ions.
• D. They react with nonmetals to form covalent compounds.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that chemical properties describe how a substance interacts 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. Evaluate the options: Metals are generally good conductors of electricity, so 'poor conductors' is incorrect as a chemical property.
4. Consider melting points: Metals usually have high melting points, so 'low melting points' is not a typical chemical property of metals.
5. Recognize that metals reacting with nonmetals usually form ionic compounds, not covalent compounds, so the statement about forming covalent compounds is incorrect.