01 · Compare the properties
What are they like?
Metals are on the left and in the centre of the periodic table. Non-metals are mainly on the right, with hydrogen on the left.
Malleable metalCopper bends without breaking.Brittle non-metalSolid sulfur breaks into fragments. | Property | Metals | Non-metals |
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| Electricity and heat | Good conductors | Usually poor conductors |
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| Appearance | Usually shiny when freshly cut or polished | Usually dull |
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| When solid | Usually malleable: can be bent or hammered into shape | Usually brittle: break when struck |
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| At room temperature | Usually solid | Many are gases; some are solids; bromine is liquid |
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02 · Test a property
Does it conduct electricity?
A conductor allows an electric current to pass through it. An insulator does not conduct well.
Copper is a metal. It conducts electricity, so the lamp lights.
A simplified test with a cell, lamp, wires and a sample. Both ends of the sample must touch the contacts.
03 · Link properties to uses
Why use a metal?
Copper wireConducts electricity and can be drawn into wires.Aluminium saucepanConducts heat from the hob to the food.
04 · Watch for exceptions
Usually does not mean always
GraphiteA form of carbon: a non-metal that conducts electricity.MercuryA metal that is liquid at room temperature. Use several properties to identify a material. One property alone can be misleading.
Remember
Metals: good conductors and usually malleable.
Solid non-metals: usually brittle and poor conductors.
Exceptions: graphite conducts; mercury is liquid.