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.
The elements of the periodic table can be broken into three different groups: metals, metalloids (or semi-metals) and nonmetals. This periodic table shows the three different groups of elements.The metalloid group separates the metals from the nonmetals. Elements to the left are metals and nonmetals are to the right.The exception is the element hydrogen. Hydrogen has properties of a nonmetal at normal temperatures and pressures.he metalloid group separates the metals from the nonmetals. Elements to the left are metals and nonmetals are to the right. The exception is the element hydrogen. Hydrogen has properties of a nonmetal at normal temperatures and pressures.