metalation, any chemical process by which a metal atom is introduced into an organic molecule to form an organometallic compound, but more commonly the process involving a hydrogen–metal exchange. An example is the metalation of benzene (C 6 H 6) by reaction with ethylsodium (C 2 H 5 Na), forming phenylsodium (C 6 H 5 Na) and ethane (C 2 H 6).