Metal Introduction - Metals & Non-Metals, Science, Class 9 - Class 8 PDF Download

Metals

As you can see from the above depiction of the periodic table, most of the elements are metals. There are various kinds of metals

• alkaline earth metals,
• alkali metals,
• transition metals,
• actinides, and
• Lanthanides

Metals on the left-hand side of the periodic table are distinguished from non-metals on the periodic table by a zigzag line that starts from carbon and runs down phosphorus, selenium, iodine, till radon. Therefore these chemical elements and everything on their right is non-metal and the row just to their left is known as semi-metals or metalloids. They have the combined properties of both metals and non-metal.

Physical Properties of Metals

• Metals are found in the solid state. Usually, all metals are solid except for mercury, it is liquid in its natural state.
• Metals are malleable. This is a property that allows them to be beaten into thin sheets. Since metals are malleable, elements such as aluminum, gold, and silver can be beaten into thin sheets for common usage
• Metals are ductile. This property of metals allows them to be stretched into thin wires. Therefore we can make copper wires and aluminum wires. It must be noted that all metals are equally ductile. Some metals are more ductile than others are it is those which are used for everyday purposes
• Metals are good conductors of heat and electricity. It is that property of metals which allows heat and electricity to pass through them. All metals are good conductors. Note that silver is the best conductor of heat as well as electricity, copper is also a good conductor of electricity. Lead is the worst conductor of heat and Iron and mercury are poor conductors of electricity
• Metals are shiny. It is one of the properties of metals that they are lustrous. They reflect the incident light. Also, metals can be polished. This is the reason that metals are turned into jewelry and desired by women and men alike
• Metals are generally very strong and hard. But there are exceptions to the rule such as sodium and potassium. These can be cut easily with a knife.
• Metals are also known to be heavy
• Metals are known to be sonorous. That is they produce a sound when they are rung or hit with an object
• They have a high melting point and a high boiling point
• Metals are known to be dense. They have high density
• Metals as objects are opaque, never transparent or translucent.

Chemical Properties of Metals

• Metals are very easily corrodible
• Metals are known to lose electrons
• Most metals when they come in contact with the oxygen they form metal oxides
• They have lower electronegativities, they are generally electropositive elements
• Metals can act as very good reducing agents