Metals and Non-Metals

Metals are solid substances that are hard, lustrous, malleable, ductile, sonorous and a good conductors of heat and electricity. Copper, iron, gold and aluminium are some examples of metals.

Non-metals are substances that are soft, lack lustre, non-malleable, non-ductile, non-sonorous and are poor conductor of heat and electricity. Carbon, sulphur and phosphorus are some examples of non-metals.

Physical state

Metals: They are generally solid in room temperature and crystalline in nature, Examples: Magnesium, copper and iron.

Exception: Mercury is liquid in room temperature.

Non-metals: They generally exist in solid or gaseous state in room temperature, Examples: Oxygen, chlorine and hydrogen that exist in gaseous state. Solid non-metals are powdery in nature, Example: Carbon, and sulphur.

Exception: Bromine exist in liquid state.

Lustre

Metals: They have lustre, that is shiny in appearance, Examples: Gold, silver and platinum.

Exception: Sodium loses its lustre when exposed to air.

Non-metals: They lack lustre, that is, they are not shiny in appearance, Examples: Chlorine, hydrogen and carbon.

Exception: The only non-metal that shows lustre is iodine and carbon, that is, (Diamond and graphite).

Hardness

Exception: Potassium, sodium and calcium are examples of soft metals.

Exception: Diamond is known as the hardest substance, made up of carbon.

Malleability and brittleness

Substances that can be beaten into thin sheets are called malleable, and the property is malleable.
Substances that can be broken into pieces are called brittle substances, and the property is brittleness.

Metals: Most metals are malleable and not very brittle. Example: Gold, silver and copper.

Non-metals: Most non-metals are brittle and not malleable. Example: Graphite and coal.

Ductility

Substances that can be drawn into thin wires are called ductile, and the property is ductility.

Non-metals: Most non-metals are non-ductile. Carbon and sulphur break if one try’s to stretch them.

Thermal conductivity

Thermal conductivity is a property of substances that permits heat to pass through them.

Metals: Metals are a good conductor of heat, hence they are widely used in making utensils, Examples: Copper and silver.

Non-metals: Non-metals are a poor conductor of heat. Example: Iodine, sulphur and silicon.

Exception: Diamond is a good conductor of heat.

Electrical conductivity

Electrical conductivity is a property of substances that permits electrical current to pass through them.

Metals: Metals are a good conductor of electricity, hence they are widely used to make electrical appliances, Examples: Copper and silver.

Exception: Carbon in the form of graphite conducts electricity.

Sonority

Sonority is a property of substances that produces a ringing sound when hit by a hard object.

Chemical reaction of metals and non-metals