Do you think metal float or sink in water?

Answer 1

Metals are a diverse group of materials composed of many different elements. Objects float or sink in water depending on their density, or amount of mass(weight) per volume(space). If their density is greater then water, they sink, if it is less than water, they float.

While it varies, I would guess that most metals in solid form would sink in water. Steel, for example, an alloy usually composed of mostly iron and some carbon, has a density of about 8 grams (a single gram is about the weight of a pen cap) per cubic centimeter, while water has a density of a single gram per cubic centimeter. Thus, a sphere of solid steel placed in water would sink. However, if the sphere were hollow, it would have the same volume, but less mass, and thus would have a smaller density, perhaps enabling it to float in water.

So, ultimately, your question depends on the specific type of metal you examine, and whether or not said metal object is hollow.

Answer 2

Metals are generally denser than water, so they typically sink when placed in water. However, some exceptionally light metals like lithium, potassium, and sodium can float due to their low density compared to water.