12. By reference to the outline periodic table shown on p. (i)
we see that the metals and non-metals occupy fairly distinct regions
of the table. The metals can be further sub-divided into (a) 'soft'
metals, which are easily deformed and commonly used in moulding,
for example, aluminium, lead, mercury, (b) the 'engineering' metals,
for example iron, manganese and chromium, many of which are
transition elements, and (c) the light metals which have low densities
and are found in Groups IA and IIA.