Final answer:
It is false that most metals naturally occur in uncombined states; they are typically found as ores in the Earth's crust, except for a few like copper, silver, and gold, which can be native metals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that most metals are found to occur naturally in their uncombined states is false. Metals are typically found as parts of ores in the Earth's crust. These ores are minerals that contain enough metal to be economically extracted. While some metals like gold, silver, and copper can occasionally be found in their native or free state, most metals are found in ores as oxides, sulfides, silicates, or other compounds that require processing to extract the metal.
Examples of this natural occurrence include copper nuggets, gold deposits, and iron ore containing oxidized iron. Copper was one of the first metals to be used by humans due to its occurrence in a directly usable metallic form and has been utilized since around 8000 BC. Additionally, precious metals such as gold and silver are often found in a native state either in nuggets or in veins.