Metals and Nonmetals - Meaning, Examples, Properties & Uses, Differences, FAQs

The periodic table is a collection of all chemical elements based on their chemical properties. The left side of the periodic table is metal, and the right side is non-metal. The rows of the columns are called periods, and the rows of the columns are called periods. is called. There are 92 elements in nature. Among the 90 elements, 70 are metals and 22 are non-metals.
The different kinds of elements around us are metals and Non-metals. It is important to know whether a particular element is a metal or a nonmetal. metals and nonmetals have different physical properties and chemical properties. The distinguishing characteristics of metals and non-metals are therefore important to know.

Metal:

Metals are minerals or substances naturally forming beneath Earth's surface. Most metals are shiny. Metals are inorganic, which means that they are made of non-living substances.

Metals are naturally occurring compounds in the earth's crust. They usually exist in the form of metallic minerals, which are connected to each other and to many other elements. They are also found naturally in rocks washed by surface water and groundwater and atmospheric dust. We know that copper is a metal and iron is a metal.

Examples of metals: Iron, copper, silver, nickel, tin, etc.,

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Nonmetals:

Non-metals are elements that form negative ions through electrons accepting or gaining. Normally in the outermost shell, non-metals are 4, 5, 6, or 7 electrons.

Non-metals are not metal attributes of all metallic. It is a good heat and electrical insulator. Mostly gases and occasionally liquids. Some even remain strong at room conditions such as carbon, sulfur, and phosphorus.

Compared to the number of metals, there are many fewer non-metals in the periodic table. Hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, sulphide, all halogens, and noble gases are some common examples of non-metals. They have very low specific gravity and are electronegative. They're not brilliant, and they don't reflect light, unlike metals.

Let us discuss the properties of metals and nonmetals. That is the physical and chemical properties of metals and nonmetals.

Physical properties of metals:

• A very important physical feature of metals is that heat and electricity can be conducted. Every metal is a good heat and electricity conductor. Each metal is a good electricity conductor. Silver is the best driver of all metals for electricity. Lead is the worst heat conductor, among all the metals, while iron and mercury are poor electrical conductors.
• The ability to extend the material into a wire is ductility. The ability to draw metals into wires and combine their durability to find applications as wires and for soldering purposes.
• Metal is malleable. They can be beaten into thin slices of their own shape. Objects such as aluminum, gold, and silver are usually processed into micro-sheets for industrial purposes.
• Metal is shiny, so it reflects the light falling on the metal surface. This is one of the reasons why metal is used to make women's ornaments and jewelry.

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Chemical properties of metals:

1. Reaction with water: Only highly responsive metals, and not all metals, react with water. Sodium, for example, reacts with water and oxygen vigorously and provides a lot of heat during the process. That is why sodium is not in contact with humidity or oxygen so that it is stored in kerosene.
2. Reaction with acids: When metals react with acids, hydrogen gas is generated. For instance, zinc produces zinc chloride and hydrogen gas when reacting with hydrochloric acid.
3. Reaction with oxygen: When metals are burned in the presence of oxygen, metal oxides are produced. These metal oxides are of fundamental importance in nature. For example, when a magnesium strip is burned with oxidation, it forms magnesium oxide and forms magnesium hydroxide when it is dissolved in water.
4. Reaction with base: Not all metals react with bases and form metal salts and hydrogen during the reaction. When zinc reacts with strong sodium hydroxide, sodium zincate and hydrogen are generated.

Physical properties of nonmetals:

• The materials to be stretched into drillings are property of ductility, but non-metals are not ductile except carbon, since carbon fibers are used in a broad range of industries including sports and musical equipment.
• Another property, known as malleability, is lacking in non-metals. They cannot be drawn in sheets as the pressure is brittle and ruptured.
• They don't look lustrous, as they don't look shiny.
• They are not sonorous, and when hit with another material, don't produce a deep ringing sound. They are bad heat and electricity conductors with the exception of graphite.

Chemical properties of nonmetals:

1. Reaction with water: A non-metal reacts not with water but is normally highly reactive in air, so some are stored in water. One of the most reactive nonmetals, for example, is phosphorus and it fires when exposed to air, so it is stored in water to protect against its contact with oxygen from the atmosphere.
2. Reaction with acids: None of the non-metals reacts with acids.
3. Reaction with base: The reaction between non-metals and bases is very complicated. Chlorine reacts with bases such as sodium hydroxide to produce products such as sodium hypochlorite, sodium chloride, and water.
4. Reaction with oxygen: When it reacts with oxygen, non-metal oxides are produced. Non-metal oxides are either acidic or neutral.

We get dioxide from sulphur when sulphur reacts with oxygen.

S+O₂→SO₂

Sulfur dioxide reacts with water to form sulfuric acid.

SO₂+H₂O→H₂SO₃

Difference between metals and nonmetals

Let us distinguish between metals and non metals:

Also read : NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Science Chapter 4 -Materials: Metals and Non-Metals

Difference between chemical properties of metals and nonmetals:

Uses of metals and nonmetals:

Uses of metals:

• The cabling is made using copper and aluminum because of their extremely low electrical resistance and high conductivity.
• The production of household goods and plant equipment is made from iron, copper, and aluminum.
• Iron is used in the Haber process as a catalyst to generate gaseous ammonia.
• zinc is used for galvanized iron to prevent rust.
• Chromium and nickel are used in electroplating and stainless steel production.
• Aluminum foil is used for packaging medicines, cigarettes, and food.
• Jewelry and coins are made of silver and gold. Thin silver and gold pieces are used to decorate candies.
• Mercury is used to making thermometers.

Uses of non metals:

• Hydrogen is used to make ammonia, and ammonia compounds are used as fertilizers.
• Liquid hydrogen is used as rocket fuel.
• Carbon in the form of graphite is used to make electrodes for electrolytic cells and dry batteries.
• Nitrogen is used to make ammonia, nitric acid, and fertilizers.
• Nitrogen is used to preserve food.
• Nitrogen compounds such as trinitrotoluene (TNT) and nitroglycerin are used as explosives.
• Sulfur is used to make sulfuric acid.

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