ʻO ke metala cubic structure keʻokeʻo ʻālohilohi me ke kikowaena o ka helehelena, palupalu, ductility lua wale nō i ke gula, he alakaʻi maikaʻi loa ia o ka wela a me ka uila; ʻaʻole ia e pane me ka wai a me ka oxygen lewa, a lilo i ʻeleʻele ke hōʻike ʻia i ka ozone, hydrogen sulfide a me ka sulfur; He inert ia i ka hapa nui o nā waikawa a hiki ke hoʻoheheʻe koke i ka waikawa nitric dilute a me ka waikawa sulfuric i hoʻopaʻa ʻia. Hiki i ka waikawa hydrochloric ke hōʻino i ka ʻili a hoʻoheheʻe i ka alkali hydroxide i hoʻoheheʻe ʻia, peroxide alkali a me ka alkali cyanide i ka lewa a i ʻole ke alo o ka oxygen; ʻO ka hapa nui o nā paʻakai kālā he mea maʻalahi i ka mālamalama a ʻaʻole hiki ke hoʻoheheʻe ʻia i nā waikawa he nui.