Metals and Non

METALS AND NON-METALS
-> metals and electropositive elements which are malleable, ductile, sonorous and
good conductors of heat and electricity for example gold, silver, aluminium etc.
-> the most abundant metal in our earth’s crust is aluminum, it is a strategic metal
which is light, resistant to corrosion and also very strong. The second most
abundant metal is iron.
-> Non metals are electronegative elements which are not malleable, not ductile
nor sonorous for example, chlrine, sulphur or carbon. Oxygen and nitrogen are
also non metals which are very important for us. Chlorine also occur as chlorides
in our earth.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF METALS AND NON METALS ->
1. Metals are malleable and can be beaten into thin sheets. For example
aluminum gold and silver can be beaten to form thin sheets. Gold and silver are
the most malleable metals.
-> Aluminium sheets are used as packaging material like food items, biscuits etc.
silver foils are used for decoration. And iron foils are also used to make boxes,
drums etc.
-> Non metals are not malleable and break on applying force i.e they are brittle in
nature. For example sulphur and carbon break on applying force.
2. Metals are ductile and can be drawn into thin wires for example gold, which is a
very ductile metal can be drawn into very long thin wires. Copper and aluminium
are also very ductile and thus are used as wires.
-> tungsten is also ductile metal and thus is used in bulbs.
-> Non metals are not ductile.
3. Metals are good conductors of heat and thus allow the heat to pass through
them easily for example silver which is the best conductor of heat along with
copper and aluminium which are thus used In cooking utensils.
-> lead and murcery are poor conductors of heat.
HOW METALS CONDUCT HEAT?
when a metal is heated, its atom gains energy and start to vibrate, this energy is
transferred to other atoms in the same metal and this vigorous movement allow
heat to be conducted from one end of metal to the other.
EXPERIMENT TO PROOF :-
1. Take an aluminum rod and fix it with a stand over a burning sphincter.
2. Affix some nails with wax on the aluminum rod.
3. Allow the heat to touch the aluminum rod.
4. After some time you will see that slowly slowly the iron nails have started to fall
down.
5. This proves that heat is conducted in the metals which allows the melting of
wax and falling of the nails.
-> the non metals are not good conductors of heat and thus do not allow the heat
to be passed in them.
3. Metals are good conductors of electricity and thus allow electric current to pass
through them easily. Silver metal is the best conductor of electricity but due to its
expensiveness copper and alumnium is mostly used in wirings.
-> the electric wires that carry current have a covering of plastic insulation which
is known as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), it does not allow the electric current to pass
to the user.
-> Non metals are not good conductors of electricity and thus do not allow
electric current to pass through them easily.
4 . Metals are lustrous and shiny for example gold, silver, metals being shiny are
best reflectors of light and thus are used in making mirrors.
-> Metals ussually lose their shine after some time when they are in contact with
air, a thin layer of carbonate, sulphide may cover the metal due to their slow
action with gases present in air.
-> Non metals are not lustrous .
5. metals are generally hard like iron, copper magnesium etc. whereas non metals
are not so hard except diamond.
6. Metals have hight melting point and boiling points like iron whereas non metals
have low melting and boiling points like sulphur.
7. Metals are sonorous and thus they produce a ringing sound when struck.
Whereas non metals are not sonorous.
EXCEPTIONS IN PHYSICAL PROPERTIES ->
1. Non metals do not conduct electricity except carbon (in the form of graphite)
which conducts electricity and is used in electrodes.
2. Non metals are not lustrous except iodine which has a shine.
3. Metals are generally hard except sodium, potassium, and lithium which can be
cut with a knife. Carbon is also a non metal (in the form of diamond) which is very
hard.
4. Metals are generally solid, except merury which is a liquid metal.
5. Metals have high melting and boiling points except sodium, potassium, gallium,
caesium (which melt when kept on hand).
6. Metals have high density except alkali metals like sodium and potassium
7. Liquid non metal is bromine.
- Written by Aswad

Metals and Non

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Metals and Non

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METALS AND NON-METALS

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