Physical Properties of Metals and Non-Metals

Physical Properties of Metals and Non-Metals

Metals:

• Typically shiny and lustrous
• Good conductors of heat and electricity
• Malleable (can be beaten into thin sheets)
• Ductile (can be drawn into thin wires)
• High density
• High melting and boiling points
• Often react with acids to form salts and hydrogen gas

Non-Metals:

• Dull and brittle
• Poor conductors of heat and electricity
• Not malleable or ductile
• Low density
• Low melting and boiling points
• Often react with oxygen to form acidic oxides

Chemical Properties of Metals and Non-Metals

Metals:

• Tend to lose electrons to form cations
• React with acids to form salts and hydrogen gas
• React with oxygen to form basic oxides
• Can be oxidized or corroded

Non-Metals:

• Tend to gain electrons to form anions
• React with hydrogen to form acidic hydrides
• React with oxygen to form acidic oxides
• Do not corrode

Examples of Metals and Non-Metals

Metals:

• Sodium (Na)
• Copper (Cu)
• Iron (Fe)
• Zinc (Zn)
• Gold (Au)

Non-Metals:

• Carbon (C)
• Nitrogen (N)
• Oxygen (O)
• Phosphorus (P)
• Sulfur (S)

Metalloids

• Also known as semi-metals
• Exhibit some properties of metals and some properties of non-metals
• Examples: Silicon (Si), Germanium (Ge), Arsenic (As), Antimony (Sb), Tellurium (Te)

Physical Properties of Metals and Non-Metals

• Metals are characteristically shiny and lustrous, whereas non-metals are dull and brittle.
• Metals are good conductors of heat and electricity, whereas non-metals are poor conductors.
• Metals are malleable (can be beaten into thin sheets) and ductile (can be drawn into thin wires), whereas non-metals are not malleable or ductile.
• Metals have high density, whereas non-metals have low density.
• Metals have high melting and boiling points, whereas non-metals have low melting and boiling points.

Chemical Properties of Metals and Non-Metals

• Metals tend to lose electrons to form cations, whereas non-metals tend to gain electrons to form anions.
• Metals react with acids to form salts and hydrogen gas, whereas non-metals react with hydrogen to form acidic hydrides.
• Metals react with oxygen to form basic oxides, whereas non-metals react with oxygen to form acidic oxides.
• Metals can be oxidized or corroded, whereas non-metals do not corrode.

Examples of Metals and Non-Metals

• Examples of metals include Sodium (Na), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), and Gold (Au).
• Examples of non-metals include Carbon (C), Nitrogen (N), Oxygen (O), Phosphorus (P), and Sulfur (S).

Metalloids

• Metalloids, also known as semi-metals, exhibit some properties of metals and some properties of non-metals.
• Examples of metalloids include Silicon (Si), Germanium (Ge), Arsenic (As), Antimony (Sb), and Tellurium (Te).