Metals have properties such as being shiny, malleable, ductile, and good conductors of heat and electricity. They are grouped into alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, and transitional metals based on their positions in the periodic table, with transitional metals further divided into the iron triad and coinage metals. The iron triad elements of iron, cobalt, and nickel are magnetic, while the coinage metals of copper, silver, and gold are commonly used to make coins.