Metals , Non-Metals & Metalloids

A metal is an element that conducts electricity and is mallable and ductile.

A non-metal is an element that doesn't conduct electricity well and is neither mallable nor ductile.
A metalloid has the appearance of a metal but can behave chemically like a metal
or a nonmetal, depending on conditions.
TAble 3.4 Comparison of physical properties of metals, semimetals, and nonmetals

Metals Metalloids Nonmetals

high electrical and thermal intermediate electrical and insulators

conductance thermal conductance
not malleable, not ductile
malleable and ductile brittle

electrical resistance increases electrical resistance decreases resistance insensitive to temperature

with increasing temperature with increasing temperature

Group III has aluminium, the

most abundant metal in the
Group I – the alkali Earth’s crust, in this position …
metals (lithium,
Group 18
sodium, potassium …)
1 2 13 14 15 16 17

transition elements non-

metals
metals

Group II – the alkaline earth the transition elements – all are metals, and they
metals (beryllium, magnesium, include most of the metals in everyday use, like iron,
calcium …) copper, tin, zinc, lead, silver, gold …

non-
metals
metals

B metalloids
boron

Si
silicon

Ge As
germanium arsenic

Sb Te
antimony tellurium

Po
polonium
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES of Metals
Metals, in their pure state, have a shining surface. This property is
called metallic lustre.

Metals are generally hard. The hardness varies from metal to metal.

Some metals can be beaten into thin sheets. This property is called
malleability. Gold and silver are the most malleable metals.
The ability of metals to be drawn into thin wires is called ductility.
Gold is the most ductile metal. You will be surprised to know that a wire
of about 2 km length can be drawn from one gram of gold.

It is because of their malleability and ductility that metals can be

given different shapes according to our needs.
The metals are good conductors of heat and have high melting points.
The best conductors of heat are silver and copper. Lead and mercury
are comparatively poor conductors of heat.

Metals are good conductors of electricity.

When metals strike a hard surface they produce a sound. The metals
that produce a sound on striking a hard surface are said to be
sonorous. So school bells are made of metals.
The physical properties of metals
Metals usually have these physical properties.
1 They are strong. If you press on them, or drop them, or try to tear
them, they won’t break – and it is hard to cut them.
2 They are malleable. They can be hammered into shape without
breaking.
3 They are ductile: they can be drawn out into wires.
4 They are sonorous: they make a ringing noise when you strike them.
5 They are shiny when polished.
6 They are good conductors of electricity and heat.
7 They have high melting and boiling points. (They are all solid at room
temperature, except mercury.)
8 They have high density – they feel ‘heavy’. (Look at the blue panel.)
We cannot group elements according to their physical properties
alone, as there are many exceptions. For example –
(i) All metals except mercury exist as solids at room temperature.
In Activity 3.5, you have observed that metals have high melting
points but gallium and caesium have very low melting points.
These two metals will melt if you keep them on your palm.
(ii) Iodine is a non-metal but it is lustrous.
(iii) Carbon is a non-metal that can exist in different forms. Each
form is called an allotrope. Diamond, an allotrope of carbon, is
the hardest natural substance known and has a very high melting
and boiling point. Graphite, another allotrope of carbon, is a
conductor of electricity.
(iv) Alkali metals (lithium, sodium, potassium) are so soft that they
can be cut with a knife. They have low densities and low melting
points.
Elements can be more clearly classified as metals and non-metals
on the basis of their chemical properties.