Active Chemistry Movie Special Effects

Activity 6 Metals and Nonmetals

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GOALS What Do You Think?

In this activity you will: If you look around your house you will see hundreds of objects made
• Observe some chemical and from dozens of kinds of materials. Have you ever wondered why the
physical properties of various manufacturer chose the materials they did for each item?
materials.
• Why are frying pans made of metal and baking dishes often made of
• Classify the materials as metals
or nonmetals.
glass or ceramic?
• Identify the metals that make • Could a baking dish be made of metal? Could a frying pan be made of
up common alloys and learn glass or ceramic?
about some special properties
and uses of the alloys. Record your ideas about these questions in your Active Chemistry log.
• Make generalizations about the
Be prepared to discuss your responses with your small group and the class.
properties that differentiate
metals from nonmetals. Investigate
• Explore how heat treatments 1. Your teacher will provide you with samples of a number of materials:
can alter the properties of
iron, copper, zinc, magnesium, tin, aluminum, brass, solder, chalk,
metals.
graphite or charcoal, wood, glass, plastic, and concrete.
Choose two of the materials that are obviously different. In your
group, brainstorm at least five characteristics or properties of
each material.

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 Activity 6 Metals and Nonmetals

a) In your Active Chemistry log, 4. Electrical conductivity: Test each

use the characteristics to describe substance with a conductivity
each material. Could someone tester or multi-meter. To test each Safety goggles
and a lab apron
else reading your log be able to substance, touch the two leads to must be worn
identify the material? each end of the sample. Do not at all times in a
chemistry lab.
allow the leads to touch each other,
2. Chemists use specific characteristics
or it will give a false reading. In Be sure the
or properties to describe and
the example shown in the diagram, terminals
distinguish among materials. of your
the bulb will glow if the material conductivity
You investigated some of these tester are kept
is conductive. Your teacher will
properties in Activity 4 (e.g., apart between
demonstrate how the specific trials.
strength, elasticity, malleability) and
conductivity tester works.
Activity 5 (e.g., density). Additional
properties used by chemists are a) In the table in your log, record
described below. whether the material is
conductive. You can use words
a) In your log, prepare a table for
like nonconductive, slightly
recording your observations.
conductive, or very conductive to
3. Luster: Is the material shiny or dull reflect this. If you are using a
in appearance? Does it look more meter, you can record the reading.
like a mirror or more like mud? If a
5. Malleability: Wrap the material
material has lots of luster it reflects
being tested in heavy plastic or a
light and you may be able to see
cloth to prevent pieces from flying
images reflected from the surface.
off the sample. Place the material
Polished metal has high luster. Dull
on a hard, flat surface. Using a
surfaces don’t reflect as much light.
hammer, try to pound the material
They have a matte appearance and
flat. If the sample can be pounded
no images can be reflected.
into a flatter shape it is called
a) In the table in your log, record malleable. If it breaks or doesn’t
whether the material has a high change it is called nonmalleable.
or low luster.
light-emitting
diode (LED)

resistor

substance
being tested

battery

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a) In the table in your log, record your observations until everyone

whether the material is malleable agrees on the most accurate list of
or nonmalleable. properties for each material.
6. Reactivity: Try scraping or sanding a) Be sure to record any changes
a small part of each sample. Is you make in your log.
the surface underneath the same
10. Classify the substances into two
in appearance or different? If the
groups. Use any property you have
surface is different, that means the
observed to divide the samples
sample has reacted with the air.
into groups that have the most in
a) In the table in your log, record common. For example, you could
whether the material is reactive divide the materials into those that
or non-reactive. do have a luster and those that do
not.
7. Ductility: Ductility refers to how
easily the substance can be pulled a) Record your classification of the
out into a wire or how bendable materials in your log.
it is. Try bending each piece to
11. Most metals have a shiny and
determine how ductile it is.
lustrous surface. They conduct
a) In the table in your log, record electricity and heat. They are
whether or not the material is malleable and ductile and they are
ductile. often relatively reactive. Nonmetals
have characteristics that are
8. Color:
generally opposite to metals in every
a) Record the color of each sample way. Instead of being lustrous their
material in the table in your log. surfaces are dull in appearance.
9. Once you have completed the table, They are nonconductive, brittle,
compare your list of characteristics and non-ductile. Now separate your
of each substance with those samples into metals and nonmetals.
recorded by the other students If you have any samples that do
Wash your
hands and arms in your class. Have each member not fit clearly as either a metal or a
thoroughly after
of your group pair off with a nonmetal, set them aside.
the activity.
student from another group. If a) Make a list of the samples in each
there is a difference in the results category in your Active Chemistry
go back to the material and review log.

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 Activity 6 Metals and Nonmetals

Chem Words
metal: class of
METALS, NONMETALS, AND METALLOIDS materials that exhibit
the properties
In this activity you investigated specific properties of materials. You of conductivity,
then used your observations to classify a material as a metal or malleability, reactivity,
and ductility. Metal
a nonmetal. Metals have luster. They exhibit conductivity. They elements readily lose
conduct electricity and heat. They are malleable and ductile and they electrons to form
positive ions.
are often relatively reactive. Many metals form a compound on their
nonmetal: an element
surface that results from reactions with air. When you scrape or sand that does not exhibit
a piece of metal you are removing that coating of metal compound. the properties
of conductivity,
Sometimes that natural coating can prevent further reacting and will malleability, reactivity,
preserve the metal underneath. and ductility. Nonmetals
tend to form negative
Look at the drawing of ions. The oxides of these
elements are acidic.
the electron-sea model of
luster: the reflection of
copper. You can see that light from the surface of
in solid copper metal, the a material described by
its quality and intensity.
centers of the copper
conductivity: the
atoms are in fixed locations property of transmitting
but a sea of electrons heat and electricity
within a substance.
surrounds them. If an
ductility: the property of
electric circuit is set up, a material to be pulled
the electrons are free to out into a wire.
move. This is the basis of reactivity: a property
that describes how
the metallic property of readily a material
electrical conductivity. Electron-sea model of copper metal. will react with other
materials.
On the other hand, silicon dioxide is an amorphous solid; you know oxidation: the chemical
it as glass. In glass, electrons are fixed into position and are held tightly process of reacting with
oxygen. More generally,
by each atom due to covalent bonding (sharing of electrons) between the loss of one or more
silicon and oxygen atoms. Since the electrons are not mobile, the glass electrons by a substance.
does not conduct an electric current like copper metal does. Glass is a amorphous solid: any
noncrystalline solid
nonconductor of electricity. in which the atoms
and molecules are not
Preserving metal and preventing its reaction with some of the organized in a definite
components in the air is a major task. When metals react with oxygen fixed pattern.
in the air it is called oxidation. This type of reaction is what happens
when iron rusts. Preventing rust is important. While a metal like steel is
very strong and makes excellent building material, once it rusts it loses
all strength and flakes away. Millions of structures, tools, and vehicles are
made primarily of metal. Preventing oxidation (also called corrosion) is
essential if they are to remain in good operating condition. In order to
prevent oxidation, metal surfaces can be painted, coated, or

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Chem Words combined with another metal to

metalloid: an element make them less reactive. (Oxidation
that exhibits some is part of an oxidation-reduction
properties of metals and
some of nonmetals. reaction in which an element loses
alloy: a substance that one or more electrons. You will learn
has metal characteristics more about this type of reaction in
and consists of two or
more different elements. later chapters.)
Nonmetals have characteristics that
are generally opposite to those of
metals in every way. Instead of being Rusting is an oxidation reaction.
lustrous, their surfaces are dull in appearance. They are nonconductive,
brittle, and non-ductile. Over the past 150 years, chemists developed the
Periodic Table of the Elements for classifying and organizing the chemical
elements. Elements are classified as metals and as nonmetals.
Some other elements are called metalloids. On the
periodic table they can be found along the zigzag line
that separates metals from nonmetals. Boron (B),
silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), arsenic (As), antimony
(Sb), tellurium (Te), and polonium (Po) are metalloids.
They share some characteristics of metals and some
of nonmetals. Metalloids are solids. They can be either
shiny or dull. Some metalloids are semiconductors. A
semiconductor is a substance that can conduct electrical
charge under certain conditions. Silicon and germanium
are semiconductors and are used in computer chips as
well as many other electronic devices.
Silicon is used in
computer chips. Brass and solder are not elements but they are still classified as metals.
They are commonly called alloys. Alloys are materials that contain more
Checking Up than one metal element and still maintain the characteristic properties of
metals. Many metals are not practically useful because they may be too
1. List five properties soft and are hard to work with. Gold is a good example of a metal that
of metals and
five properties of is too soft for jewelers to work with so they make an alloy of gold, silver,
nonmetals. and copper. The alloy is harder and will hold its shape. Iron combined
2. Why is it important to with chromium, nickel, and carbon makes the alloy called steel. This
prevent the oxidation gives it the strength that it needs in construction. The brass that you
of metals used in
construction? investigated contains __23 copper and __13 zinc. Solder contains __2 lead and __13
3
3. What is a metalloid? tin. (There are several different recipes for solder and brass.) Alloys are
4. Explain the meaning of classified as metal solutions and if they are uniformly mixed then they are
an alloy. homogeneous mixtures called solution alloys.
5. Why are alloys used?

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 Activity 6 Metals and Nonmetals

What Do You Think Now?

At the beginning of this activity you were asked:
• Why are frying pans made of metal and baking dishes often made of glass or
ceramic?
• Could a baking dish be made of metal? Could a frying pan be made of glass or
ceramic?
Using what you now know about metals and nonmetals, answer these questions.
Then, classify the following unknown element as a metal or a nonmetal and
explain your reasoning.
Unknown element: nonconductive, brittle, and non-reactive.

What does it mean?

Chemistry explains a macroscopic phenomenon (what you observe)
with a description of what happens at the nanoscopic level (atoms
and molecules) using symbolic structures as a way to communicate.
Complete the chart below in your Active Chemistry log.

MACRO NANO SYMBOLIC

What did you see when In words, describe what is Draw a picture to show the
a substance conducted happening to the electrons conductivity of electricity in a
electricity? in a metal when it conducts metal.
electricity.

How do you know?

List the elements from the lab that did conduct electricity.
Why do you believe?
To keep small children safe, adults will use plastic covers for electrical
outlets. Explain why they use plastic (and not another material) for the
covers on electrical outlets.
Why should you care?
You will be writing a movie scene for your challenge in this unit. During
the filming you will probably need to construct backgrounds and props
for the scene. List one metal and one nonmetal that you plan to use
in the scene. For each, explain what would happen if you substituted a
different item.

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Reflecting on the Activity and the Challenge

As you are creating your movie special effect, you may have to build a stage
set, model, or prop. It is important to consider the nature of the materials you
choose before you start construction. You need to match the characteristics of the
material you choose with the object you are trying to build. You need to decide
if the building material should be heavy or light, flexible or rigid. Each of the
characteristics of the substance is important. The characteristics required will
probably vary with each construction project. Whichever materials you choose, you
will strengthen your report by discussing the specific properties of the materials and
classifying them as metals, nonmetals, or metalloids.

1. a) List the names of three metals you are familiar with in your daily life.
b) For each metal you listed in (a), describe two different uses for each.
2. a) List the names of three nonmetals you are familiar with in your daily life.
b) For each nonmetal you listed in (a), describe two different uses for each.
3. Examine the following objects or machines that you use every day:
a) backpack
b) bicycle
c) car
Make a list of the metals and nonmetals that make up the major components of
the object. List the function and characteristics of each component.
4. a) List two properties of a material that you can observe using your senses.
b) List two properties of a material that require tests to observe.
5. Classify each of the following as a metal, nonmetal, or metalloid:
a) aluminum (Al)
b) iron (Fe)
c) boron (B)
d) oxygen (O)
e) carbon (C)
f) silicon (Si)
g) mercury (Hg)
6. The way materials are used can change with time. Milk was originally delivered
in glass bottles. Now cartons made from wax-coated paper and plastic jugs are
used for milk. Snow skis used to be made of wood. Now they are made from
fiberglass or graphite. What factors go into decisions about changing what
materials should be used when building a product?

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 Activity 6 Metals and Nonmetals

Inquiring Further
The effect of heat treatment on the property of a metal
It is possible to change the characteristics of a material by treating them in various
ways. Determine the effect of heat on a metal. Obtain a few paper clips or bobby
pins from your teacher. As a control, determine how many times it takes to bend Safety goggles
the clip or pin back and forth in order to break it. The stress at the point of bending and a lab apron
must be worn
causes the paper clip or bobby pin to break. at all times in a
chemistry lab.
Now try some various types of heat treatment to see what effect they have on the
metal. Try heating the piece in the flame of a burner until it is red. To do this, hold Have an adult
with you
the piece with tongs or forceps. Allow the piece to cool on its own until it is safe to at all times
handle. Then try to break it again, being careful to bend it back and forth exactly as when heating
materials. The
you did with the control. Record your results and try another heating scheme. adult should
check for safety
Consider the following treatments: before you
begin.
• heating to redness and then cooling by plunging into water
If you are doing
• heating and cooling several times this activity in
class, make sure
your teacher
• heating only a moderate amount. approves and
supervises your
Record your observations and summarize what seems to be the relationship of heat procedure.
treatment to the characteristics of the metal.
What characteristic of metals do you think is demonstrated by bending the metals
back and forth until breaking?

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