Construction inflation. Building costs throughout 2011 rose steadily and although theyâre expected to stabilise during 2012 inflationary pressures are nevertheless set to remain as labour wage strains and competitive labour forces continue to affect input costs.
Physical Properties. Metals differ so widely in hardness, ductility (the potentiality of being drawn into wire), malleability, tensile strength, density, and melting point that a definite line of distinction between them and the nonmetals cannot be drawn. The hardest elemental metal is chromium; the softest, cesium.
Groups of similar elements or compounds can be characterized by commonality in their physical properties. Metals have a whole bunch of physical properties that are similar. For example, metals are very ductile and very malleable. All easily conduct electricity and heat and all have a bright luster. These all reflect a commonality of structure. However, the similarities in a group do not extend to every property.