A SS IG N M E N T N O 1

TO PI C

P H Y S I C A L P R I N C I P L E S I N V O LV E D
I N T H E S T U D Y O F P R O P E RT I E S O F
M E TA L S A N D N O N - M E TA L S

Submitted by

Junaid Ajmal [332]

Submitted to

Madam Shazia
 Preface

In this assignment you will study the physical properties of metals and nonmetals. They are
classified on the basis of their chemical and physical properties. But the main focus of my
assignment is the study of physical principles involved in the study of properties of metals
and nonmetals. I have tried my best to use easy and simple English so that it could be easily
understood. Diagrams and pictures are used where needed so that more information could be
conveyed in fewer words. All the information is verified and obtained from authentic source.
Although it is my first experience but I hope you will appreciate me. Nobody is perfect so
you may found many mistakes but I shall remove them in later editions. There is always a
room for improvement so you suggestions will be entertained. I shall be very thankful to you
for your feedback at junaid_jeansandcowboy@yahoo.com

Junaid Ajmal
 Abstract

Entire universe is made up of approx. 103 elements. Elements were first classified on the
basis of metals and non-metals. Metals are elements that give off “free” electrons. Metals
generally have anywhere between 1 to 3 electrons excess of a closed shell. Non-metals on the
other hand have similar number of electrons in deficit of the numbers required for a closed
shell. In periodic table metals are on left side while non-metal are on right side. Metals are
malleable, ductile, good conductor of heat and electricity, lustre, tensile, brittle, have high
melting and boiling point, insoluble and sonorous. Non-metals are non-malleable, bad
conductor of heat and electricity, have low melting and boiling point, have low densities and
are not sonorous. They are almost opposed to each other and are easily comparable.
 Acknowledgement

From the formative stages of this assignment, to the final draft, I owe an immense debt of
gratitude to Vinton Cerf and Robert Kahn who developed “The Internet and Transmission
Control Protocols”-the technology that enables all forms of data communication between all
the connected computer systems of the world. As most of the material I have written in my
assignment is searched via internet.

I would also like to thank those who agreed to be interviewed, for, without your time and
cooperation, this assignment would not have been possible. To each of you, I extend my
deepest appreciation.
 DEDICATION

To

my parents and friends

in recognition of their worth

Every journey begins with a single step.

This journey is for you.

This is the step.

 List of Contents

• Introduction

• Electronic explanation of metals and non-metals

• Position of metals and non-metals in the periodic table

• Physical properties metals

• Physical properties of non-metals

• Comparison
Introduction

Earth is an abundant source of materials. The air we breathe, the water we drink, stones and
rocks, almost everything that is around us, are all useful to man for some purpose or the
other. Gaseous materials like Oxygen, Nitrogen and Carbon dioxide are found in the
atmosphere. Common salt and various other salts of sodium, magnesium and calcium are
found dissolved in water bodies, like the oceans, rivers and lakes.

There are about 103 elements, 92 of which are naturally occurring. Metals and non-metals are
characterized by distinctly different physical and chemical properties. At present about 80
metals are known to us. Metals can be shaped like clay, are heat-resistant, and are not fragile.

Though the non-metals are only 22 in number, they are the major constituents of earth, air
and oceans. At room temperature, over half of the non-metals are gases, except bromine,
which is a liquid. The most abundant non-metal in the earth's crust is oxygen, which
constitutes about 50% of the earth's crust and along with nitrogen it forms the main
constituents of air. The next abundant non-metal is silicon which constitutes about 26% of the
earth’s crust. Oxygen and silicon are the two major constituents of earth. Hydrogen and
oxygen are the two major constituents of the oceans.

Electronic explanation of metals and non-metals

These properties can be simply explained by considering the electronic structure of the atoms
of these elements. Metals, on the left hand side of the periodic table, have few electrons in the
outer shell. This lends itself to what is called metallic bonding in which many atoms of the
elements share their outer electrons in a delocalized cloud which makes a hard structure
which conducts electricity. Non-metals have outer electron shells which are nearly full. This
means that small numbers of atoms bond covalently to form small molecules which usually
are gases.
Position of metals and non-metals in the periodic table

Metals Metals occur on the left hand side of the Periodic Table.
Non-metals Non-metals occur on the right hand side of the Periodic Table.
Metalloids Semi-metals with properties in between metals and non-metals occur between
these two groups. (B, Si, Ge, As, Sb, Te)

Metals Non-metals H
He
Li Be B C N O F Ne
Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar
K Ca Transition Metals Ga Ge As Se Br Kr
Rb Sr Transition Metals In Sn Sb Te I Xe
Cs Ba Transition Metals Tl Pb Bi Po At Rn
Fr Ra Transition Metals

Physical properties metals

1. Metals are malleable: Metals can be hammered or beaten into thin sheets without
breaking. Malleable means that metallic bonds in the metals do not break easily. Gold (Au),
silver (Ag) are highly malleable elements. Metals can be made into thin foils because they are
malleable.

2. Metals are ductile: Metals can be melted and drawn into thin wires. Because of this
property, metals are known as ductile. The ductility property follows from the malleability
property. While being drawn into wires, metals are stretched. Because of the strong metallic
bonds, the metal atoms do not separate easily. Silver (Ag), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al) are
very ductile, very thin wires can be made out of these elements.

3. Metals are good conductors of heat and electricity: In metals, the bonds are formed by
excess or free electrons moving around large array of atoms. These electrons are able to
conduct electricity and heat. Silver (Ag), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al) are good conductors of
heat and electricity. Amongst metals, lead (Pb) is a poor conductor of electricity.

4. Metals have lustre: Metals generally can be highly polished. The electronic structure of
metals is such that the metals are able to reflect incident light. This gives metal the
characteristic metallic lustre. Gold (Au), silver (Ag), copper (Cu), platinum (Pt) can be
polished and give off a good lustre.

5. Metals are highly tensile: Due to their ductility and malleability properties, metals are
very strong. Their bonds do not break easily as the electrons are shared over an array of metal
atoms. This gives metals a very high tensile strength, and metals do not break easily.

6. Physical state: Metals are solids at room temperature. Mercury (Hg) is the only exception
- it is liquid at room temperature. Density of metals is high. Only sodium (Na) and potassium
(K) have densities less than water. Thus all metals are hard materials except sodium and
potassium which are soft metals. Lead is also considered to be a soft metal.

7. Brittleness: Metals are not brittle. But Zinc (Zn) is an exception. Metals do not break
easily because of their metallic bonds.

8. Melting and boiling points: All metals, other than sodium (Na) and potassium (K), have
high melting and boiling points. The melting points of sodium (Na) and potassium (K) are
below 100°C. The melting point of iron is about 1540°C.

9. Solubility of metals: Pure metals are insoluble in solvents like water or in any organic
solvent. Metals can be dissolved only in acids.

10. Metals are sonorous: Metals make a characteristic sound when hit with an object. Thus
metals are sonorous. The sonorousness of metals depends on the temperature and density.

Physical properties of non-metals

1. Non-metals are not malleable or brittle: Non-metals cannot be hammered or beaten into
thin sheets without breaking. Non-metals break into pieces when hammered or stretched.
Sulphur, phosphorous are powders and cannot be made into a sheet. Brittleness is a
characteristic property of non-metals.

2. Non-metals are not ductile: Non-metals cannot be melted and drawn into thin wires.
Non-metals do not have free electrons. Thus the bonds between atoms in the elements are
weak and they snap when stretched. The non-ductility property follows from the non-
malleability or the brittleness property.
3. Non-metals are bad conductors of heat and electricity: In non-metals, the bonds formed
are weak as there are no free electrons to share. Other than graphite, which is an allotropic
form of carbon, none of the non-metals are good conductors of heat and electricity. Graphite
is able to conduct electricity because of its special crystalline arrangement.

4. Non-metals have no lustre: Non-metals are in the form of powder or are gaseous. Hence
they cannot be polished and they do not have any lustre. Most of the powders are dull in
colour. Only graphite can be polished to some degree. Iodine shows some lustre as it has
more electrons.

5. Non-metals are not strong: Due to their non-ductile and non-malleable properties, non-
metals are not strong at all. Their bonds break easily, as the electrons are not shared.

6. Physical state: Non-metals can be in the form of solids, liquids or gaseous at room
temperature. Some non-metals like carbon, sulphur, phosphorus are solids at room
temperature. Bromine is liquid at room temperature. Most other non-metals are gaseous at
room temperature. Solid non-metals are soft materials. Carbon in its allotropic form of
diamond is an exception here; diamond is the hardest substance found in nature.

7. Melting and boiling points: All non-metals have low melting and boiling points. The
melting point of Sulphur (S) is 115°C. Graphite and diamonds have high melting points, but
these are exceptions in the non-metals.

8. Solubility of non-metals: Non-metals are soluble in some chemical or organic solvents.

For example iodine (I) is soluble in alcohol.

9. Density of non-metals: Non-metals have low densities as compared to metals, which have
high densities. This means that in non-metals, the atoms are not strongly bound. The
crystalline volume of non-metals is small.

10. Non-metals are not sonorous: Non-metals do not make any characteristic sound when
hit with an object. Thus non-metals are not sonorous.
Comparison

Property Metals Non-Metals

Appearance lustrous dull

(physical property)

Density moderate to high low to moderate

(physical property)

Physical State solid (except liquid solid, liquid or gas

(25oC, 101.3kPa) mercury)
(physical property)

Melting and Boiling Point moderate to high wide range

(physical property)

Heat and Electrical Conductivity good poor (except

(physical property) graphite)
Tensile Strength (resistance to high brittle
bending)
(physical property)
Malleability (roll into sheets) malleable not malleable
(physical property)

Ductility (draw into wire) ductile not ductile

(physical property)

Charge on Ions (in general)* forms positive ions forms negative ions
(chemical property)

Bonding in oxides and chlorides usually ionic** covalent

(chemical property)

pH of oxides usually basic*** usually acidic

(chemical property)

*some non-metals can form positive or negative ions, eg, H+ and H-

**some metal oxides are covalent, eg, Al2O3
***some metal oxides are amphoteric (both acidic and basic), eg, Al2O3
 Bibliography

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