John Zinni (or somebody else of the same name) wrote thusly in message
:

Hi All

When an astronomer/astrophysicist uses the word "metals" he/she is
referring to the group of all elements other than H and He.

Does anyone know the etymology of this particular use of the word
"metals"?

Thanks

Most of the elements with Z2 are metals. Astrophysicists might have begun
by saying "metals and heavier non-metals" and the expression gradually got
chopped to its first word.
--
Paul Townsend
Pair them off into threes

Interchange the alphabetic letter groups to reply