Name: ________________________
Metals/Non Metals/Metalloids Lab...
Pre Lab Question:
What is the difference between and Metal and a Non-Metal? Talk about shape, color, luster, malleability,
conductivity.
Lab:
You will test a number of materials and try to classify them as a metal, metalloid, or nonmetal, based on what
you discover about them through your tests. The following are definitions that you may need to know:
Luster: The appearance of the substance as shiny or dull
Malleability: The ability to bend. Does the material bend or shatter when tapped with a hammer?
Conductivity: The ability to have electricity flow through a substance. A conductor allows electricity to flow.
Reactivity: Does the substance show a visible reaction when combined with another substance (HCL or
CUCL2)
Procedure:
You will be given the following substances. At each station you will test your substance for the above
properties. You are to fill in the chart with the appropriate observations based on your experiment. If you see a
very strong reaction with one of the tests, indicate this happened with a star.
Substances and Melting Points:
Aluminum
Carbon
Copper
Magnesium
Silicon
Sulfur
Zinc
6600 C
36520 C
10630 C
6490 C
14100 C
1130 C
4200C
Table:
Substance
Appearance
Malleability
Conductivity
Rxn HCL
Rxn CuCl2
Lab Questions: (answer on back of sheet)
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Metals have a luster, are malleable, and conduct electricity
Many metals react with acids; many metals also react with CuCl2 solution.
Nonmetals are usually dull in appearance, are brittle, and do not conduct electricity
Metalloids have some properties of both metals and nonmetals.
1) Based on the following information, try to classify (do this below) each of your substances as a metal, nonmetal or metalloid and SUPPORT your answer with observations that you made:
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___________________Aluminum:
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___________________Carbon:
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___________________Copper:
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___________________Magnesium:
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___________________Silicon:
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___________________Sulfur:
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___________________Zinc:
2) Why do you think some metals react more strongly than other metals?