<Table> <Tr> <Td> Metal </Td> <Td> Metalloid </Td> <Td> Nonmetal </Td> <Td> Unknown properties </Td> <Td> Background color shows metal--metalloid--nonmetal trend in the periodic table </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> Metal </Td> <Td> Metalloid </Td> <Td> Nonmetal </Td> <Td> Unknown properties </Td> <Td> Background color shows metal--metalloid--nonmetal trend in the periodic table </Td> </Tr> <P> The atoms of metallic substances are typically arranged in one of three common crystal structures, namely body - centered cubic (bcc), face - centered cubic (fcc), and hexagonal close - packed (hcp). In bcc, each atom is positioned at the center of a cube of eight others . In fcc and hcp, each atom is surrounded by twelve others, but the stacking of the layers differs . Some metals adopt different structures depending on the temperature . </P> <P> Atoms of metals readily lose their outer shell electrons, resulting in a free flowing cloud of electrons within their otherwise solid arrangement . This provides the ability of metallic substances to easily transmit heat and electricity . While this flow of electrons occurs, the solid characteristic of the metal is produced by electrostatic interactions between each atom and the electron cloud . This type of bond is called a metallic bond . </P>

Are pure metals made of atoms or ions