electricity
Transition metals are superior conductors of heat as well as electricity. They are malleable, which means they can be shaped into sheets, and ductile, which means they can be shaped into wires. They have high melting and boiling points, and all are solids at room temperature, except for mercury Hg , which is a liquid. Transition metals are also high in density and very hard. Most of them are white or silvery in color, and they are generally lustrous, or shiny. The compounds that transition metals form with other elements are often very colorful. You can see several examples in the Figure below .