Do you know how many elements are there in our periodic table?

There are 118 elements in the modern periodic table. These elements can be broadly classied as metals
and non-metals depending on their properties.

Elements that lose electrons to form compounds are called metals whereas elements that gain electrons
to form compounds are called non-metals. Elements such as Si, Ge, As, Sb and Te show the
characteristic properties of both metals and non-metals. They are called semi-metals or metalloids.
Here, we will discuss metals and non-metals along with their physical properties in detail.

Metals

These elements are electropositive and contain less than or equal to three electrons in their valence
shell. Metals such as aluminium, copper, and iron are widely used around us. Metals are used for the
construction of bridges, automobiles, airplanes, ships, trains, etc. We will now discuss the physical
properties of metals.

Physical properties of metals:

1. Metallic Lustre: The surface of most metals is shiny. The lustre associated with metals is known as
metallic lustre. For example, iron, copper, gold, and silver are very shiny. Metals such as gold and silver
are very lustrous. Therefore, they are used for making jewellery.

Silver is used for making mirrors because of its excellent shine and reflective nature.

Some metals do not look very lustrous. This is because they either lose their lustre or their lustre gets
reduced when exposed to air for a long time. This happens due to the formation of a layer of oxide,
carbonate, and sulphide on their surface. If a metal surface is rubbed with sand paper, then this layer
gets removed and the shiny surface of the metal can be seen. The layer formed in some cases is stable
and sticks on the surface of the metal, but in other cases, it is unstable and falls off (as in the case of
rusting of iron).

2. Hardness: Metals are generally hard in nature. However, this hardness varies from metal to metal.
Most metals such as iron, aluminium, etc. are very hard and cannot be cut with a knife whereas some
metals such as sodium and potassium are very soft and can be cut using a knife.

3. Malleability: Metals are malleable. Most metals such as iron, copper, silver, and gold can be
hammered without breaking to form thin sheets. Aluminium, and silver are highly malleable metals and
are often used for making foils, which are extensively used in the decoration of sweets, packing of food
items, etc.

4. Ductility: Most metals are ductile, which means that they can be drawn into thin wires without
breaking. For example, iron, copper, silver, and gold can be drawn into thin wires without breaking. For
this reason, copper and aluminium are extensively used for making electrical wires.
Gold and silver are the most malleable and ductile metals. Hence, they are extensively used in jewellery.

5. Conduction of heat: Metals are generally good conductors of heat. This means that if one end of a
metal rod is heated for some time, then the entire rod becomes hot. For example, aluminium, copper,
and silver are good conductors of heat. Hence, copper and aluminium are generally used for making
vessels. The following activity can be performed to explain that metals can conduct heat.

6. Conduction of electricity: Metals are good conductors of electricity i.e., they allow an electric current
to pass through them easily. Silver, copper, and aluminium are the best conductors of electricity. For this
reason, most electric wires are made of copper and aluminium. However, using silver for making electric
wires is not cost effective. The following activity can be performed to explain that metals can conduct
electricity.

Activity:

Take two electric wires and attach two clips to each wire (as shown in the given figure). Then, take a
bulb fitted in a holder and connect it to a battery with the help of electric wires. Now, take pieces of
iron, copper, and aluminium and place them one by one between the clips.

Figure 2: Conduction of electricity in metals

It will be observed that the bulb glows every time when the metal pieces are used to connect the two
clips. This shows that metals are good conductors of electricity.

7. Melting and boiling points: Melting and boiling points of metals are usually high.

8. Physical state: All metals exist as solids at room temperature except mercury, which exists as a liquid.
9. Sonority: Metals such as iron and copper produce a sound on being struck. Hence, metals are said to
be sonorous.

Non-metals

Many elements in the periodic table do not behave like metals. These elements are known as non-
metals. These elements gain electrons to form compounds. These are electronegative and contain more
than three electrons in their valence shell. Carbon, sulphur, iodine, oxygen, etc. are some examples of
non-metals. Non-metals exist in all three physical states i.e., as solids, liquids, and gases. Bromine is the
only non-metal, which exists as a liquid.

Physical properties of non-metals:

1. Lustre: Non-metals do not have a shiny surface. However, iodine is an exception, which has a very
shiny surface.

2. Hardness: Non-metals generally exist as solids, liquids, or gases. Non-metals that exist in a solid state
are very soft. For example, sulphur, which exists in solid state, is quite soft. Similarly, carbon, in the form
of graphite, is quite soft. However, diamond, another allotrope of carbon, is very hard. It is in fact the
hardest known natural substance.

3. Malleability and ductility: Non-metals that exist in solid states are not very strong. They are brittle and
break when pressure is applied on them. Therefore, non-metals are neither malleable nor ductile.

4. Conduction of heat and electricity: Non-metals are poor conductors of heat and electricity. Examples
include sulphur and phosphorus. However, there is an exception. Feedback Graphite, an allotrope of
carbon, is a good conductor of electricity.

5. Physical state: Non-metals exist in all three physical states at room temperature. Non-metals such as
carbon, sulphur, and phosphorus exist in solid states while oxygen, chlorine, and nitrogen exist in
gaseous states. Bromine is the only non-metal that exists in a liquid state.

6. Melting and boiling points: Melting and boiling points of non-metals are quite low. For example, the
melting point of phosphorus is 44.2°C. However, diamond, an allotrope of carbon, is the only non-
metallic substance that has a very high melting and boiling point. The melting point of diamond is more
than 3500°C.

7. Sonority: Non-metals are not sonorous. The given table summarizes the properties of metals and non-
metals.

Metals Non-metals
Metals are very hard and strong. Solid non-metals are soft and can be easily
broken.

Metals have a shiny luster. . Non-metals are not shiny and have a dull
appearance.

Metals are sonorous. Non-metals are not sonorous.

Metals are good conductors of heat and Non-metals are poor conductors of heat and
electricity. electricity

Metals such as aluminium, copper, and iron are widely used around us. Metals are used for the
construction of bridges, automobiles, airplanes, ships, trains etc.

We have earlier studied about the physical properties of metals. Now, let us try to learn about their
chemical properties. Here, we will study about the reaction of metal with oxygen, water, and acids.

You must have observed that when a piece of iron is kept in the open for some time, it gets covered
with a brownish substance. This brownish substance is called rust and the process is called rusting.
Rust is formed when iron reacts with oxygen (present in air) to form iron oxide. Also, a ribbon of
magnesium burns in air to form magnesium oxide. These reactions represent reactions of metals with
oxygen. Hence, metals react with oxygen to produce metals oxides.

Metals react with oxygen to produce metal oxides which are basic in nature. These oxides thus turn
red litmus paper blue, but have no effect on blue litmus paper.

Let us now study how non-metals react with oxygen

Sulphur (S) is a non-metal. It reacts with oxygen to produce sulphur dioxide (SO ), which is an acidic
oxide. Sulphur dioxide then reacts with water to produce sulphurous acid (H SO ), which changes blue
litmus to red. The chemical equations involved in the reaction can be represented as:

Non-metals react with oxygen to produce their oxides, which are generally acidic in nature.
We will now study the reaction of metals and non-metals with water.

While some metals react very vigorously with water, others react very slowly. However, there are some
metals which do not react with water at all. For example, sodium metal reacts vigorously with water and
iron reacts slowly with water.

Metals react with water to produce hydrogen gas and metal hydroxides. These metal hydroxides are
basic in nature. However, non-metals usually do not react with water.

Do You Know:

Sodium and potassium are very reactive metals. They react vigorously with oxygen and water to
produce a lot of heat. Hence, to prevent their reaction with air and water, they are stored under
kerosene.

Non-metals react very vigorously with air, but generally do not react with water.

Phosphorus is a very reactive non-metal, which catches fire when exposed to air. Hence, phosphorus is
stored under water to prevent contact between phosphorus and air.

Reaction of metals with oxygen

On heating, magnesium burns with a dazzling white flame to form magnesium oxide. Similarly, when
aluminium is heated, it reacts with oxygen present in the air to form aluminium oxides.