1Conducting electricity
Metals are good conductors of electricity. Most non-metals are insulators: they don't conduct.
conductorinsulator
Lesson 20.3 notes
Metals and non-metals
Testing elements in a circuit, with a hammer and with a magnet, and what their oxides do in water.
2The odd one out
Graphite, a form of carbon, is a non-metal that conducts electricity. It is used in pencils.
graphite
3The hammer test
Metals are malleable: they can be hammered into shape. Solid non-metals are brittle: they shatter.
malleablebrittle
4More metal properties
Metals are shiny and sonorous: they ring when hit. They are ductile: they can be pulled into wires. They conduct heat well.
sonorousductile
5Magnetic metals
Only iron, nickel and cobalt are magnetic, and most steels, which are mostly iron. Most metals, like copper and aluminium, are not.
magnetic
6Metal oxides
Many metals burn to make oxides. Metal oxides are bases: those that dissolve in water make alkaline solutions.
oxidebasealkaline
7Non-metal oxides
Non-metal oxides, like sulfur dioxide, dissolve in water to make acidic solutions. Sulfur dioxide from burning fuels causes acid rain.
acidicacid rain
Explore: Element test bench
Choose an element and a test. Fill in the results table and look for the pattern.
Common mistake: Not all metals are magnetic
Only iron, nickel and cobalt, and most steels (which are mostly iron), are attracted to a magnet. Copper, aluminium and gold are metals, but they are not magnetic.
Remember
- Metals are shiny, conduct electricity and heat, are malleable and sonorous, and most have high melting points.
- Non-metals are usually dull, don't conduct (except graphite) and are brittle when solid. Mercury is a liquid metal.
- Metal oxides are bases: soluble ones make alkaline solutions. Most non-metal oxides make acidic ones.
Going further at GCSE