Which of the following is a common property of metals?

Metals are characterized by a range of properties that distinguish them from non-metals and other materials. One of the prominent properties of metals is their high melting and boiling points. This trait is largely attributed to the strong metallic bonds that exist between metal atoms. These bonds involve a 'sea of electrons' that allows for effective attraction among the positively charged metal ions. As a result, significant energy is needed to overcome these strong forces when transitioning to the liquid and vapor states, leading to high melting and boiling points.

The other characteristics that metals typically exhibit include good electrical and thermal conductivity due to the mobility of electrons, malleability and ductility rather than brittleness, and variable density that can be relatively high depending on the specific metal. Hence, high melting and boiling points stand out as a defining property of metals.