Metal, Nonmetal, or Metalloid
Prelab
Click through the slides with your
partner, completing your worksheet
as you go.
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Properties of Metals
• Metals are:
– solids (Except mercury [Hg], a liquid under normal
conditions).
– shiny.
– good conductors of electricity and heat.
– ductile (they can be drawn into thin wires).
– malleable (they can be easily hammered into very thin
sheets).
• Metals also tend to lose electrons in chemical
reactions.
• Many metals react with hydrochloric acid to form
hydrogen gas.
• Generally have high melting points (except columns 1
and 2).
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Properties of Nonmetals
• Nonmetals have properties opposite of metals.
• Nonmetals are:
– brittle (shatter easily).
– not malleable or ductile (shatter easily).
– poor conductors of both heat and electricity.
• Nonmetals tend to gain electrons in chemical
reactions.
• Some nonmetals are liquids.
• Have low melting points.
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Properties of Metalloids
• The elements that border the stair-stepped line
are classified as metalloids.
• The metalloids, or semimetals, have properties
that are somewhat of a cross between metals and
nonmetals.
• Metalloids tend to be economically important
because of their unique semiconductor properties
(they only partially conduct electricity), which
make them valuable in the semiconductor and
computer chip industry.
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Properties Quiz
• In order to use the properties to identify an
unknown, you must know the properties.
• Complete this short quiz. Try to get the
answers by talking it out with your partner;
only look at your notes if you need to.
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1. What is this sample?
• An unknown sample is a liquid, and conducts
heat very well. It is also shiny.
Metal
Nonmetal
Metalloid
WRONG!
Property
Metal
Nonmetal
Metalloid
Possible States of
Matter
Solid (Except
mercury, which is
liquid)
Solid, Liquid, Gas
Solid
Appearance
Shiny
Dull
Some, shiny, Some
dull
Conductivity
Very Good
Poor
Semi-conductors
Reaction with HCl?
Yes
No
No
Malleable and
Ductile or Brittle?
Malleable and
Ductile
Brittle
Brittle
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RIGHT!
Property
Metal
Nonmetal
Metalloid
Possible States of
Matter
Solid (Except
mercury, which is
liquid)
Solid, Liquid, Gas
Solid
Appearance
Shiny
Dull
Some, shiny, Some
dull
Conductivity
Very Good
Poor
Semi-conductors
Reaction with HCl?
Yes
No
No
Malleable and
Ductile or Brittle?
Malleable and
Ductile
Brittle
Brittle
Most of the properties for metal are highlighted from
the description of the unknown, so it is likely a metal.
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2. What is this sample?
• An unknown sample is brittle, dull. It is a semi
conductor and works well for technological
applications such as the computer chip in your
phone.
Metal
Nonmetal
Metalloid
WRONG!
Property
Metal
Nonmetal
Metalloid
Possible States of
Matter
Solid (Except
mercury, which is
liquid)
Solid, Liquid, Gas
Solid
Appearance
Shiny
Dull
Some, shiny, Some
dull
Color
Silvery-white, Gold,
Rose-gold
Yellow, black
Some metallic,
some nonmetallic
Conductivity
Very Good
Poor
Semi-conductors
Reaction with HCl?
Yes
No
No
Malleable and
Ductile or Brittle?
Malleable and
Ductile
Brittle
Brittle
Click Here
to Try Again
RIGHT!
Property
Metal
Nonmetal
Metalloid
Possible States of
Matter
Solid (Except
mercury, which is
liquid)
Solid, Liquid, Gas
Solid
Appearance
Shiny
Dull
Some, shiny, Some
dull
Conductivity
Very Good
Poor
Semi-conductors
Reaction with HCl?
Yes
No
No
Malleable and
Ductile or Brittle?
Malleable and
Ductile
Brittle
Brittle
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Using the Properties to Identify an
Unknown
• We focused on four properties of metals:
–
–
–
–
–
Appearance
Conductivity
Malleability
Reaction with HCl
Melting Point
• Click on each one to see how to test this
property.
• Once you have read all four, click here to
continue.
Appearance
• Use your eyes (not
hands, mouth, or
anything else) to
observe the sample.
Boron, Metalloid
– Is it shiny? Dull?
– What color is it? Silvery,
or something else?
– What state of matter is it
in? Solid? Liquid? Gas?
Silicon, Metalloid
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Conductivity
• Turn the conductivity
meter on using the switch
• Place the leads (wires)
onto the sample to test.
• No lights: not a conductor
• Dim lights: some
conduction
• Bright lights: good
conductor
Calcium, Metal
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Malleability
• Strike the sample with a
hammer (carefully)
• Malleable (can be
hammered into a sheet)
and ductile (can be
hammered into a wire)
materials will not
shatter when struck
with the hammer.
Copper, Metal
Copper can be hammered into a bowl or wire.
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Reaction with HCl
Zinc, Metal
Zinc reacts with acid (HCl) to produce
hydrogen gas bubbles.
• Pick up a small sample
of the metal and drop it
into the HCl.
• If you hear a fizzing
sound, see vapor rising,
or bubbles forming, a
reaction is occurring
(giving off hydrogen).
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Melting Point
Iron, Metal. Melts at 2800°F.
• Heat the sample until it
melts.
• This may require VERY
high temperatures, and
thus cannot be done in
a classroom.
Gallium, Metal. Melts at
body temperature.
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Write a Procedure
• Make a step-by-step procedure to test if an unknown
sample is a metal, metalloid, or nonmetal.
– Test the following: appearance (color, luster, state of
matter), conductivity, malleability, and reaction with acid
– Explain what each test tells you (Ex: Shiny appearance
means it is likely a metal, but could be a metalloid)
– Use complete sentences and numbered steps.
– Your procedure should be specific enough that anyone
could pick it up and use it to test an unknown sample.
• I reserve the right to ask you to verbally explain the
procedure to me for your grade. Make sure you
understand the procedure; not just your lab partner.
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Properties Page