Metal, Nonmetal, or Metalloid?

Objective: Explore the physical and chemical properties of eight elements with the goal of classifying them as metals,
nonmetals, or metalloids.
Background:
Physical Properties: physical properties include characteristics of an element we can observe without changing the elements
the chemical make up.
Chemical Properties: chemical properties are characteristics of an element that are able to be seen when a chemical reaction
is occurring or has occurred
Metals:
Great conductor of electricity.
-High boiling point.
solid at room temperature.
Shiny, ductile, and malleable.
Nonmetals:
- dont conduct with electricity.
-Dull and brittle
- low boiling point.
-Liquid, gas, or solid at room temperature
Metalloids:
- Shiny but brittle.
-solid at room temperature.
- doesnt conduct electricity very well.

SAFETY CAUTION

Safety Precautions:
Perform this lab activity in a well-ventilated laboratory. Iodine is toxic by ingestion and inhalation; it is corrosive to the skin,
eyes, and the respiratory tract; avoid inhalation of iodine vapors by keeping the iodine bottle covered throughout the lab.
Hydrochloric acid solution is corrosive to eyes and skin. Cupric chloride solution is toxic if ingested. Avoid contact of all
chemicals with eyes and all body tissues. Wear chemical splash goggles, chemical-resistant gloves, and a chemical-resistant
apron.

Procedure:
y Preparation
1. Using a periodic table, determine the chemical symbol from each of the eight elements to be tested in this laboratory. Fill in the
chemical symbol for each element on the data table.
2. Obtain the spot plate with the corresponding element in each well. Carefully carry the spot plate back to your lab table.
3. NOTE: Do not touch any of the elements with your hands, especially the iodine. Use a spatula or forceps at all times; avoid
all skin contact with iodine and avoid breathing its vapors! Return the samples in the spot plate after making observations. To

es

observe some of the properties you may need to move the sample to paper towel using a spatula or forceps. Record the information
on the Data Table.

color

1. Observe and record the

of each element on the Data Table. Is the sample silver, gray, colored, etc . . . .? Be very specific in
recording observations.
luster 2. Observe and record the
of each element on the Data Table. Is the sample lustrous and shiny, slightly shiny, dull?
al properties
3. Record any other
that are observed about the element on the Data Table. Be specific in your observations.
What form is the sample in? Is the sample crystalline, flaky, rough, smooth, flat and plate-like, rocky, in strips?
4.malleable
Determinebrittle
whether each element is
or
. To do this, position a nail on the sample and gently tap the nail with a hard,
solid object (such as a small piece of wood). A material is malleable if it flattens or bends without shattering. A sample is brittle if
it shatters or cracks into pieces when struck. Record your results on the Data Table.
5. Test the conductivity of the eight samples. Touch both electrodes to the element being tested, being sure that the electrodes are
not touching each other. Red LED off Green LED off Low or None, Red LED dim Green LED off Low, Red LED medium Green LED off
medium, Red LED bright Green LED dim high, Red LED very bright Green LED medium very high

Part 2Chemical Properties

1. Determine the
of each sample by adding 2-3 drops of 1 M hydrochloric acid to each well. (Note: Evidence for a
chemical reaction may be the formation of gas bubbles and/or discoloration on the surface of the element. Some reactions
may be slow to startbe patient.)
2. Observe each tube for approximately 3-5 minutes and record results in the Data Table.
ric chloride
3. solution
Determine the
of each sample by adding 2-3 drops of 0.1 M cupric chloride to each tube.
(Note: Evidence for a chemical reaction may be the formation of gas bubbles and/or discoloration on the surface of the
element. Some reactions may be slow to startbe patient.)
4. Observe each tube for approximately 3-5 minutes and record results in the Data Table.

acid

Disposal:
Decant the liquid from the tubes into the liquid waste container provided by your teacher and dispose of the solids in the solid waste
disposal. Wash the spot plates with water & a test tube brush.

Metal, Nonmetal, or Metalloid?

Post-Lab Questions:

1. Review the data gathered for the eight elements. Sort the eight elements into groups based on similarities and differences in their
physical and chemical properties. From the information provided in the background reading, classify each element as metals,
nonmetals, or metalloids.
metals - ________________________________________________________________
nonmetals - _____________________________________________________________
metalloids - _____________________________________________________________
2. Are there any inconsistencies within the groups you made? Do any elements seem to have properties of both groups? Which?
Explain.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
3. Look at the location on the periodic table of each of the eight elements tested n this lab. How do the properties of these elements
compare to their general position on the periodic table? Make generalizations about the position of the metals, nonmetals, and
metalloids on the periodic table.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Predict the physical and chemical properties of the following elements which were not tested in this lab.
selenium - _________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
calcium - __________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
cobalt - ___________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

Data Table: Metal, Nonmetal, or Metalloid?

Element

Chemical
Symbol

Color

Luster

Other Physical
Properties

Result of Tapping

Conductivity

Aluminum

Al

silver

shiny

Malleable

high

discoloration

Carbon

black

dull

flaky

brittle

none

Copper

Cu

bronze

shiny

smooth

malleable

flaky

brittle

none

shiny

flaky

brittle

medium

no reaction

dull

smooth

malleable

none

bubble

yellow

dull

smooth

brittle

none

no raction

dull

slightly

silver

shiny

smooth

malleable

high

Iodine

Silicon

Si

Magnesium

Mg

sulfur

zinc

Zn

darker
silver
blue
silver
close to
black

high

shiny

2000 Flinn Scientific, Inc. Catalog No AP5935

discolorati
on
no reaction

no reaction

dull,
slightly

Reaction
with CuCl2

Reaction
with HCl
bubbling

no reaction
discoloratio
n

discolorati

discoloratio

on

n
bubbling

no