Physical Properties of Metals

Study Notes

High density
High melting and boiling points
Good conductors of heat and electricity
Malleable (can be shaped into thin sheets) and ductile (can be drawn into thin wires)
Sonorous (produce a ringing sound when struck)
Possess lustre (shine or glow)

Used in construction (e.g., iron, steel) and transportation (e.g., aluminum in aircraft)
Used in electrical appliances and devices (e.g., copper in wires)
Used in medical equipment and instruments (e.g., stainless steel)
Used in jewelry and coins (e.g., gold, silver)

Metals have high density, which means they are heavy for their size
High melting and boiling points, making them resistant to heat
Good conductors of heat and electricity, allowing them to transfer energy efficiently
Metals are malleable, meaning they can be shaped into thin sheets, and ductile, meaning they can be drawn into thin wires
When struck, metals produce a ringing sound, known as sonorous
Metals possess lustre, which means they shine or glow

Most metals react with oxygen to form oxides, which are compounds containing oxygen
Examples of metal oxidation reactions include sodium reacting with oxygen to form sodium oxide, and magnesium reacting with oxygen to form magnesium oxide
Metal oxidation reactions can be violent or slow, depending on the metal
Metal oxides can exhibit basic, acidic, or neutral properties

Metals are used in construction due to their strength and durability, such as iron and steel in building frames
Aluminum is used in aircraft due to its light weight and high strength-to-weight ratio
Copper is used in electrical appliances and devices due to its high conductivity
Stainless steel is used in medical equipment and instruments due to its resistance to corrosion
Gold and silver are used in jewelry and coins due to their attractive appearance and durability

Metals are highly reactive, meaning they easily lose electrons to form ions
Metals tend to lose one, two, or three electrons to form ions, depending on their reactivity
Metals react with acids to produce salts and hydrogen gas, releasing energy in the process
Metals react with water to produce oxides and hydrogen gas, releasing energy in the process

Non-metals have low density, meaning they are light for their size
Non-metals have low melting and boiling points, making them less resistant to heat
Non-metals are poor conductors of heat and electricity, making them less effective at transferring energy
Non-metals are brittle, meaning they break easily, and non-ductile, meaning they cannot be drawn into thin wires
Non-metals do not possess lustre, meaning they do not shine or glow
Examples of non-metals include carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, phosphorus, and the noble gases