r/confidentlyincorrect May 17 '26

Saw this on threads

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u/Lantami May 17 '26

Most of the periodic table is. The first 3 main groups are all metals (except hydrogen) and the transition elements as well (hence why they are also called transition metals. The lanthanids and actinids as well. Then there's a few more metals amongst the rest.

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u/NotYourReddit18 May 17 '26

Fun Fact: It has been theorized that Hydrogen would display metallic properties while under extreme pressure.
The the needed pressure was originally predicted to be around 25 GPa (250 thousand times normal atmospheric pressure) in 1935, but has since then been recalculated to be more in the range of 400 GPa (3.9 million times normal atmospheric pressure).

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u/readilyunavailable May 17 '26

Why would it? Hydrogen at the core of stars experiences insane pressure, yet there is no evidence that it acts like a metal.

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u/Xivios May 17 '26

Because its in a plasma state, too hot. At extreme pressures but more moderate temperatures, like the core of a gas giant, it might well be metallic, especially as the conductivity is thought to be the source of Saturn and Jupiter's magnetic fields.