PRACTICAL 1.

3:
COMPARING THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF A SOME
ELEMENTS

INTRODUCTION
Pure substances (elements and compounds) can be identified by their physical and chemical properties.
Common properties are colour, physical state, melting and boiling points, density, electrical
conductivity, solubility, hardness and malleability.
Some properties are more useful in classifying elements into the groupings, metals, non-metals and
semi-metals than others.
Complete the following table.

PROPERTY METALS NON-METALS SEMI-METALS

Physical state at room

temperature

Conducts electricity?
(yes/no)

Melting point
(high/low)

Boiling point
(high/low)

Solubility in water

Lustre (shiny/dull)

Malleability

Hardness

You may have found that because of the range of elements grouped under the non-metal category there
is quite a degree of variation in some of these properties.

TASK
You are to plan and perform a series of tests to decide whether the materials you have been given are
metals, non-metals or semi-metals.
1 Consider the answers you have given in the table and decide which properties (at least three) would
be the most appropriate for determining whether an element is a metal, non-metal or semi-metal.
 SAFETY: Remember to consider the limitations of your laboratory facilities &
equipment as well as safety.
Guidelines for material testing.
PROPERTY TEST
Lustre Clean the surface of the material with some abrasive paper and observe the
surface to determine if it is shiny, glassy, metallic, pearly or dull.
Electrical conductivity Connect a power supply (battery or transformer), globe or ammeter, and
material sample in series to make a simple circuit. Note if the globe lights or
the reading on the ammeter.
Hardness Scratch the material with a steel knife. If the material can be scratched by the
knife it is softer than steel, if the material scratches the knife it is harder than
steel.
Malleability Use a hammer to see if the material will flatten out, if it shatters or forms a
powder.
Solubility in water Dip part of the sample into boiling water for 60 seconds and observe whether it
dissolves or softens.

2 Write out a step by step procedure for conducting the tests.

SAFETY: Remember to consider safety aspects of the tests.

3 Write a list of equipment you will need.

4 Construct a data table to record the results.
5 Having completed the investigation decide on which group each of the materials fits into. It may be
useful to use the following as a guide.
LUSTRE
ELECTRICAL
MATERIAL MALLEABILITY HARDNESS SOLUBILITY GROUP
CONDUCTIVITY

Carbon (D) No lustre Yes Brittle hard no

Copper - E Has Yes Yes but no No

lustre

Aluminium - H Yes

Magnesium F Yes zinc a soft

Lead - G yes
Silicon - I no

Iron – c yes

Sulfur (B)

Zinc (A)

Tin – j

6 Discuss any difficulties you had or any inconsistencies you discovered.

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