# Properties of metals and non-metals

> Every use of a metal starts with a property


## Objectives

- Compare the physical properties of metals and non-metals.
- Use a property (conductor, malleable, ductile, shiny) to explain why a metal is chosen for a use.
- Avoid the trap 'it conducts electricity, so it must be a metal'.

## 1. General properties: mass, radius and metallic property




## 2. Foil or powder?

Predict: which property lets aluminum become foil?

- It conducts electricity
- It is shiny
- It is malleable: it can be hammered into sheets ✓

Aluminum becomes foil because it is malleable: it can be hammered into thin sheets without breaking. Metals are usually malleable, while a solid non-metal such as sulphur is brittle.

[ar-EG] الـ aluminum بيتعمل فويل عشان هو malleable: ينفع يتطرّق لشرايح رفيعة من غير ما يتكسر. الـ metals عادةً بتبقى malleable، إنما الـ non-metal الـ solid زي الـ sulphur بيبقى brittle.
## 3. Metals vs non-metals

Physical properties of metals and non-metals Notice the word **most**. Each row has exceptions, as you'll see next.


## 4. Property → use

Chemists choose a metal for a job because of a property. It conducts electricity, so it must be a metal.


## 5. Apply it

Heating coils need a metal that can be drawn into long, thin wires. Which property is that?

- Good conductor of heat
- Malleable
- Ductile ✓
- Shiny

Being drawn into long, thin wires is called ductile. Malleable is about being hammered into sheets; conducting heat and being shiny are other properties.

[ar-EG] إن الـ metal يتسحب لأسلاك طويلة ورفيعة اسمه ductile. الـ malleable ليها علاقة بالطَرق لشرايح؛ وتوصيل الحرارة واللمعة دول صفات تانية.
## 6. Summary

Most metals are shiny, good conductors of heat and electricity, malleable and ductile, with high melting points. Most non-metals are dull, poor conductors and brittle when solid; many are gases. A metal is chosen for a use because of a property, e.g. copper in electric cables. Match each property to the use it explains. Key words: **malleable**, **ductile**, **good conductor of electricity**, **brittle**. Next in Chapter 1: some metals are too brittle to use pure. Watch for the reason each time. Can you explain why 'it conducts electricity, so it's a metal' can be wrong?



Chapter: Transition Elements (https://yaani.ai/en/learn/chemistry/chem-s3-en.ch1)
Source: https://yaani.ai/en/lesson/chem-s3-en.lesson-chem.metal-properties