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Grades 8 and 9 Beginner About 15 min Version 1 Awaiting review Premium

Metals and non-metals

Most elements are metals. Metals usually have a shiny surface (lustre), can be hammered into sheets (malleable) and drawn into wires (ductile), ring when struck (sonorous), and conduct heat and electricity well. Non-metals are usually dull, brittle when solid, and poor conductors; many are gases. There are exceptions, so test more than one property: mercury is a metal but a liquid, and graphite (a form of carbon) is a non-metal but conducts electricity.

What you will learn

  • Describe the physical properties of metals and non-metals.
  • Use several tests to classify an element.
  • Recognise exceptions such as mercury and graphite.

Before you start

  • Know what an element is.

Materials

  • Samples of iron, copper, aluminium, zinc, magnesium ribbon, sulfur, charcoal, graphite (pencil lead), iodine, mercury (shown sealed), oxygen

Equipment

  • Hammer, cell, bulb and wires for a conduction tester, sandpaper

Procedure

  1. Choose a card and test its lustre, what happens when it is hammered, and whether it conducts electricity.
  2. Use several results before deciding.
  3. Place each card in the metals or non-metals group.