Questions and Answers
What is a common property of metals regarding their state at room temperature?
Which non-metal is an exception to the property of having low melting and boiling points?
Which of the following statements is true about the hardness of non-metals?
What is a common exception to metals having high density?
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What distinguishes the conductivity of metals and non-metals?
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Which statement is correct regarding the tensile strength of metals?
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Which of the following statements about the lustre of non-metals is true?
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What characterizes the malleability and ductility of metals?
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Which property describes the sonorous nature of metals?
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Where are non-metals primarily found in nature?
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Study Notes
Classification of Elements based on Properties
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State at Room Temperature
- Metals are primarily solid, with mercury (Hg) and gallium (Ga) as liquid exceptions.
- Non-metals are mostly gases; solid exceptions include carbon (C), sulfur (S), phosphorus (P), and bromine (Br) as a liquid.
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Melting and Boiling Points
- Metals typically demonstrate very high melting and boiling points, though sodium (Na), potassium (K), and mercury (Hg) exhibit lower values. Gallium has a low melting point yet a high boiling point.
- Non-metals generally have low melting and boiling points; nevertheless, carbon (C), silicon (Si), and boron (B) show high temperatures.
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Hardness
- Metals are generally hard, with sodium (Na) and potassium (K) being notable soft exceptions.
- Solid non-metals are brittle, except for diamond, which is the hardest naturally occurring material.
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Density
- Most metals possess high density, although lithium (Li), sodium (Na), and potassium (K) are less dense than water (1 g/cm³).
- Non-metals usually have low density, with diamond being a notable exception due to its high density.
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Conductivity
- Metals are excellent conductors of heat and electricity, with bismuth (Bi) and tungsten (W) as poor electrical conductors.
- Non-metals typically conduct heat and electricity poorly; graphite and gas carbon are exceptions due to their conductivity.
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Lustre
- Metals exhibit lustre, contributing to their shiny appearance.
- Non-metals generally lack lustre, with iodine (I₂) and graphite being notable exceptions.
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Tensile Strength
- Metals usually possess high tensile strength, while zinc (Zn) is an outlier with low tensile strength.
- Non-metals lack tensile strength, except for carbon fiber, which represents a recently developed ductile form.
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Malleability and Ductility
- Metals are typically malleable and ductile, although zinc (Zn) is not.
- Non-metals are non-malleable and non-ductile, with carbon fibers being a notable ductile exception.
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Sonorousness
- Metals are sonorous, producing a ringing sound when struck.
- Non-metals are non-sonorous and do not produce sound in this manner.
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Occurrence in Nature
- Metals are mostly found in a combined state; only noble metals occur in a free state.
- Non-metals can be found in both free and combined states, showcasing more variability in occurrence.
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Description
Test your knowledge on how elements are classified based on their properties. This quiz focuses on the differences between metals and non-metals, including their physical states and melting/boiling points. Evaluate your understanding of these fundamental concepts in chemistry.
