Proerties of metal and non metals

Question 1

Wherabouts are metals found on the periodic table

Answer 1

To the left of the zigzag

Question 2

Metals are conductors- what do they conduct?

Answer 2

Electricity and heat
Metals have some free electrons which can move between the atoms and can carry a current from one end to another or transfer heat energy

Question 3

Describe how metals are ductile

Answer 3

They can be drawn out into wires
They can bend and stretch

Question 4

Explain how metals are malleable

Answer 4

Their atoms can slide over each other which allows then to be hammered into thin sheets or bent without shattering

Question 5

Explain why metals make tough building materials

Answer 5

There are strong forces between the atoms which gives them high tensile strength
This means they can be pulled without breaking

Question 6

Why are metals shiny?

Answer 6

The light reflects from the smooth surface of freshly cut or polished metals making them shiny

Question 7

Explain why metals have high melting or boiling points

Answer 7

Metals have strong forces holding their atoms together
A lot of heat energy is needed to break the bonds and make them melt, even more to make them boil.
Only mercury is liquid at room temperature all other metals are solid

Question 8

Explain why metals have high densities

Answer 8

Metals have a lot of atoms tightly packed into a small volume which makes them very dense.

Question 9

Identify which metals are magnetic

Answer 9

Iron
Nickel
Cobalt
or any alloy of these 3 such as steel

Question 10

What is an alloy

Answer 10

A combination of two or more metals

Question 11

Give a practical example of the use of an alloy

Answer 11

Making car wheels
Lighter weaker metal is combined with heavier stronger metal to make an alloy which is light but strong

Question 12

Explain how metals conduct heat

Answer 12

The particles of a metal are packed tightly together
Heat makes the particles vibrate more strongly
The vibrations pass along the metal
Free electrons also help to transfer heat energy

Question 13

Explain how metals conduct electricity

Answer 13

An electrical current is the flow of an electrical charge around a circuit
Metals allow an electric charge to pass through them
The moving charges are negatively charged electrons
Metals contain free electrons which carry the current from one end to another

Question 14

What does a metal produce when it reacts with oxygen

Answer 14

A metal oxide which is a base
A base reacts with an acid to make the metal salt plus water.

Question 15

Whereabouts on the periodic table are non metals found

Answer 15

To the right of the zigzag

Question 16

Explain why non metals are poor conductors of electricity

Answer 16

The atoms of a non metal are arranged so that electrons can’t pass through them
If there is no flow of electrons there is no electric current.
This means that they are insulators they don’t conduct electricity.

Question 17

Explain why non metals are poor conductors of heat

Answer 17

If you heat one end of a non metal the heat doesn’t pass through to the other end.
This is because the hot particles do not pass their vibrations very well
This makes non metals good thermal insulators.

Question 18

What is the one exception to the rule that non metals do not conduct electricity

Answer 18

Graphite a form of carbon

Because it is arranged in layers electrons can pass through it

Question 19

Explain why non metals are not strong or hard wearing

Answer 19

The forces between the atoms are weak which means that they break easily

Question 20

Explain why non metals are dull

Answer 20

Their surfaces are not smooth so they don’t reflect light very well

Question 21

Explain why non metals are brittle

Answer 21

The atoms in the structure are held together by weak forces so they can shatter easily

Question 22

Explain why non metals have low melting and boiling points

Answer 22

The atoms in the structure are held together by weak forces so they do not need much heat to break down.
This means that they melt and boil easily.
Many non metals are gases at room temperature
Some non metals are solid at room temperature
Only bromine is a gas at room temperature

Question 23

Explain why non metals have low densities

Answer 23

Many non metals are gases so they have very low densities as there are few particles packed into a space
Even the solid and liquid ones have low densities

Question 24

Are there any magnetic non metals

Answer 24

NO
Only the metals iron cobalt and nickel are magnetic

Question 25

What is the pH of a non metal oxide

Answer 25

When they are added to water they are always acidic so have a pH of less than 7.
Non metal oxides react with bases to make metal salt and water