Final answer:
The air molecules around the metal will speed up, while the metal molecules will slow down.
Step-by-step explanation:
In this case, the most likely event to take place over the next few minutes is that the air molecules that are surrounding the metal will speed up, and the molecules in the metal will slow down. When a hot metal plate is placed in air at room temperature, heat energy is transferred from the plate to the air through conduction. This causes the air molecules around the plate to gain energy and move faster, while the metal molecules lose energy and move slower.
Learn more about Heat transfer between a hot metal plate and air