METALS & NON-METALS

Metals can be distinguished from non-metals on the basis of their physical and chemical properties.
Physical properties of matter means external appearance of the matter and its response to various
external factors like force, temperature, etc.

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Physical Properties of Metals & Non-metals:

Malleability ability to form thin sheets
Ductility ability to form thin wire
Lustre shinning
Sonorous producing characteristic sound
Heat Conductivity allowing heat to flow from high to low temperature
Electrical Conductivity allowing electrical current to flow

Chemical properties of matter means the ability of the matter to exchange electrons with other
elements or compounds to form another type of compound.

Metals are usually solids at room temperature. Mercury is the only metal which is found in
liquid state at room temperature. Non-metals are found is all three states at room temperature
sulphur and phosphorus are solid, bromine is liquid, and oxygen, nitrogen etc. are gas.

Most metals are very hard. However, sodium and potassium are soft metals which can be cut
with a knife. Non-metals are not hard.

Metals are sonorous when struck with a hammer they produce a characteristic metallic
sound. Non-metals are not sonorous.

Metals are lustrous they possess a characteristic shining appearance. Non-metals are not
lustrous. Graphite and iodine are lustrous. They are non-metals. But, they are exceptions.

All metals are good conductors of heat and electricity. Non-metals are not good conductor of
heat and electricity. Graphite is a non-metal, but it is a good conductor of electricity. It is an
exception.

Metals are malleable, i.e., they can be beaten into very thin sheets. For example, gold and
silver are among the most malleable metals. Non-metals are not malleable.

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Metals are ductile, i.e., they can be drawn into wires. Gold and silver are among the most
ductile metals. A gold piece of the size of a 50-paisa coin can be stretched into a 10-km-long
wire. Because of its ductile nature, copper is used in electrical wires. Non-metals are not
ductile.

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Chemical Properties of Metals and Non-metals:

Metals form positive ions (e.g. Na+, Ca2+ etc.) whereas non-metals form negative ions (e.g.
Cl-, S2-, N3- etc.)

1. Reaction with Oxygen (O2):

Metal

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Rusting of Iron:
When any material made of iron is exposed to moist air for long, it acquires a dull
brown coating of iron oxide. Following reaction takes place:
3Fe + O2 + 2H2O Fe3O4 + 2H2
Burning of Magnesium Ribbon:
Magnesium ribbon burns with bright flame and magnesium oxide is formed as ashes.
Following reaction takes place:
2Mg + O2 2MgO
Green patina formed on copper:
When a copper vessel is exposed to moist air for long, it acquires a dull green coating.
The green material is a mixture of copper hydroxide (Cu(OH)2) and copper carbonate
(CuCO3). Following reaction takes place:
2Cu + H2O + CO2 + O2 Cu (OH)2 + CuCO3

All metal oxides are basic in nature. This is because water solution of metal oxide turns blue
litmus red.
Non-metal
Burning of Sulphur (S):
Sulphur (S) when burnt in air, sulphur dioxide (gas) is formed. Sulphur dioxide when
dissolved in water gives sulphurous acid. Following reaction takes place:
S + O2 SO2
SO2 + H2O H2SO3 (Sulphurous Acid)
Burning of Carbon (C):
Carbon (C) when burnt in air, carbon dioxide (gas) is formed. This, on dissolving in
water, gives carbonic acid. Following reaction takes place:
C + O2 CO2
CO2 + H2O H2CO3 (Carbonic Acid)
All non-metal oxides are acidic in nature. This is because water solution of non-metal oxide
turns red litmus blue.
Elements combine with oxygen to form corresponding oxide. And there can be many different
ways various elements can form the oxides. Rusting of iron is one way of oxide formation. Burning is
yet another way of oxide formation. Burning and rusting are two different process.

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Not all metals reacts with oxygen at same rate. Some metals reacts with oxygen very quickly,
e.g. Sodium (Na), Calcium (Ca) etc.; whereas some reacts too slowly, e.g. Silver (Ag) which turns
black after long time due to oxide formation. Some other metals like Gold (Au) and Platinum (Pt) do
not react with oxygen at all. That is why the metals like Gold, Platinum and Silver are used for
jewelleries.
2. Reaction with Water (H2O):
Metal
As with oxygen, different metals react with water, under different conditions, at different rate. But,
in all these reactions metal hydroxide is produced and hydrogen gas is liberated.

For example, Sodium (Na) metal is very reactive. It reacts vigorously with water and a lot of heat is
generated in the reaction. It is, therefore, stored in kerosene. Calcium (Ca) and Lithium (Li) also react
vigorously with water.
Some metals like Magnesium (Mg), Aluminium (Al), Zinc (Zn) react slowly with water. Iron (Fe)
reacts very slowly with water.

Other metals like Cobalt (Co), Nickel (Ni), Copper (Cu), Mercury (Hg), Silver (Ag), Platinum (Pt)
and Gold (Au) do not react with water at all.

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Non-metal
Non-metal generally do not react with water. Due to this reason non-metals which are highly reactive
in air, for instance Phosphorous (P) which catches fire if exposed to air, are kept in water.

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3. Reaction with Acids:

Most of the metals (Ca, Na, Mg, Al, Fe, etc.) react with acids to produce corresponding metal
salt and liberate hydrogen gas (H2). Liberation of hydrogen gas is tested by bringing a burning
match-stick near the mouth of the test-tube. Hydrogen gas burns with a pop sound. Sometime,
we may have to heat a little (warm the acid) for reaction to take place.
But, metals like Copper (Cu), Mercury (Hg), Silver (Ag) do not react with Hydrochloric Acid
(HCl) even on heating. These metals however react with Sulphuric Acid (H2SO4) or Nitric Acid
(HNO3). But, hydrogen gas is not liberated in such cases. In reaction with sulphuric acid, sulphur
dioxide gas is liberated; whereas in reaction with nitric acid, nitrogen dioxide gas is liberated.
Non-metals generally do not react with acids.

4. Reaction with Bases:

Some metals such as Zinc (Zn), Aluminium (Al) and Tin (Sn) react with Sodium Hydroxide
(NaOH) and hydrogen gas is liberated. Hydrogen gas burns with a pop sound. Reaction of nonmetals with base is complex.

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Displacement Reaction:
It refers to the reaction in which more reactive metals displace the less reactive metals from
their compound in aqueous solutions.
CuSO4 Blue
ZnSO4 Colourless
FeSO4 Brown
CuSO4 + Iron nails (Fe)

FeSO4 + Cu
CuSO4 + Zinc granule (Zn)

ZnSO4 + Cu
ZnSO4 + Iron nails (Fe)

No Reaction
ZnSO4 + Copper turnings (Cu)

No Reaction
FeSO4 + Zinc granule (Zn)

ZnSO4 + Fe
FeSO4 + Copper turnings (Cu)

No Reaction
Reactivity: Zn > Fe > Cu
Lithium (Li) is the most reactive metal, and gold (Au) is the least reactive metal.

Reactivity of metals (in decreasing order): Li > Ca > Na > Mg > Al > Zn > Fe > Cu > Ag > Au

Uses of Metals & Non-metals:

Because of its unique properties metals finds tremendous applications in making machineries,
automobiles, aeroplanes, trains, satellites, industrial gadgets, cooking utensils, water boilers etc.
Metals like sodium, potassium, calcium, iron, etc. play key role in our body, and are vital for
our survival. Magnesium is a central atom in chlorophyll and thereby plays key role in photosynthesis.

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Non-metals are also essential for our life. 96% of our body basically consist of four elements
Oxygen (65%), Carbon (18.5%), Hydrogen (9.5%) and Nitrogen (3%). In remaining 4%, Chlorine,
Phosphorus and Sulphur are also present. Besides, all living beings inhale oxygen during breathing.
Non-metals (Nitrogen and Phosphorus) are used in fertilisers to enhance the growth of plants.
Non-metal (Chlorine) is used in water purification process. Non-metal (Iodine) is used in the purple
coloured solution which is applied on wounds as an antiseptic.
Non-metals (Sulphur) is also used in crackers.
Test for Acid and Base:
Acid turns blue litmus red, whereas base turns red litmus blue.
Acids are sour in taste whereas bases are bitter in taste.
Examples of Acid:
Hydrochloric Acid (HCl), Sulphuric Acid (H2SO4), Nitric Acid (HNO3), Lemon Juice

HCl, H2SO4, HNO3 are called mineral acids because they are obtained from minerals. These
acids are highly corrosive. Citric acids, Vinegar (diluted acetic acids) etc. are called organic acids.
Organic acids are mostly edible and non-corrosive.
Examples of Base:
Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) and Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) found in soaps and cleaning
materials. These are also called Alkalis (but not all bases are alkalis)
Magnesium Hydroxide (Mg(OH)2) found in medicines used for treating acidity problems

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QUESTIONS:
1. Give reasons for the following:
(a) Aluminium foils are used to wrap food items.
(b) Immersion rods for heating liquids are made up of metallic substances.
(c) Copper cannot displace zinc from its salt solution.
(d) Sodium and potassium are stored in kerosene.
(e) Jewelleries are made of gold, platinum or silver.
(f) Mercury is used in thermometer.
(g) Copper or aluminium is used for making electrical wires
(h) Carbon is used for fuel
(i) Iron is used for making machinery
2. Can you store lemon pickle in an aluminium utensil? Explain.
3. What happens when: (a) dilute sulphuric acid is poured on a copper plate? (b) iron nails are placed
in copper sulphate solution? Write word equations of the reactions involved.
4. Saloni took a piece of burning charcoal and collected the gas evolved in a test tube. How will she
find the nature of the gas? Write down word equations of all the reactions taking place in this
process.
5. One day Reeta went to a jewellers shop with her mother. Her mother gave old gold jewellery to
the goldsmith to polish. Next day when they brought the jewellery back, they found that there was
a slight loss in its weight. Can you suggest a reason for the loss in weight?