Which one of the following is a characteristic of a metal?
A. Reacts with bases to produce salts
B. conducts heat readily
C. Changes the color of litmus paper to red
D. Becomes negative when combined with other elements
B. Conducts heat readily. Metals are good conductors of heat; they are shiny, malleable, and mostly solid. Because of its malleability, it can be flattened or beaten into wires, foils and plates. When combined with other metals, they form positive ions.
