The physical properties of metals and non-metals are starkly different. Metals have the following properties which non-metals do not exhibit:

1. Malleability:

Have you noticed different metallic substances can be moulded into different shapes? 

• Picturise a blacksmith beating a piece of iron and creating a spade, axe, or a shovel. He beats the sheets of metal and moulds them into different shapes. 
• A similar process is done with aluminium foil. Aluminium pieces are beaten into thin sheets that can be used for wrapping food. 
• The property of a metal to be beaten into sheets is called malleability.
• This property is not shown by non-metals like coal, glass or plastic.

2. Conductivity

A metal pan with a metal handle used for cooking heats up immediately, but the same pan with a plastic or wood handle does not. This happens because metals show good conductivity, whereas non-metals like wood and plastic are non-conductors of heat and electricity.

3. Ductility

Another property that is shown by metals is ductility.

• Ductility is the ability of metals by which they can be drawn into wires.
• It is very common to see electric wires being made from metals like aluminium and copper.

4. Sonorous

Have you ever tried banging utensils made up of metals like copper or aluminium? They make a ringing sound when struck hard. When you try something similar with two pieces of wood or a non-metal, they don’t create a ringing sound. Since metals produce ringing sounds, they are called as sonorous whereas non-metals are non-sonorous.

So, we can say that metals are malleable, ductile, sonorous, and good conductors of heat and electricity. Apart from these properties, some other physical properties of metals include:

• High tensile strength
• They are solid at room temperatures(except mercury which is liquid)
• They have high boiling and melting points
• They are lustrous

Physical properties of metals are not exhibited by non-metals like wood, carbon, oxygen, boron, phosphorus, etc.

Not just physical but chemical properties of metals and non-metals can also help distinguishing between the two. Here are a few reactions that distinguish them:

1. Reaction with Oxygen

Rusting of iron is the reaction of iron with oxygen in the presence of moisture. All metals react with oxygen to form basic oxides, which, when dissolved in water form alkali/basic solutions. However, when non-metals undergo the same reaction, the non-metallic oxides are acidic and dissolve in water to give an acid.

2. Reaction with Water

While metals are seen to be reactive with water, non-metals are not so reactive with water. It is for this reason that non-metals are stored under water. The best example of this is the storage of phosphorus under water as it catches fire immediately when exposed to air.

3. Reaction with Acids

Metals follow the ‘Reactivity Series’ by which metals which are more reactive than hydrogen replace the element from dilute acids to produce their respective salt and water. 

• Similarly, metals that are said to be less reactive than hydrogen do not displace hydrogen from the acid, and therefore, no reaction takes place.  
• When metals react with acids and displace hydrogen gas, it burns with a pop sound.
• Non-metals do not react with acids.

4. Reaction with Bases

Metals react with bases to give the respective salt and hydrogen gas. However, the same reaction is not seen with non-metals.

5. Displacement Reactions

Here is a reaction. What do you think is happening here?

CuSo4+ Zn –> ZnSo4 + Cu

Zinc being more reactive than copper has displaced it from its salt to form its salt. This kind of reaction is called a displacement reaction and is a chemical property that is characteristic of metals but not shown by non-metals.

From what we know so far, we realise how important metals and non-metals are to our daily lives. 

While metals are used in making utensils, machinery, satellites, automobiles, water boilers, and many others, here are some uses of non-metals: 

• Oxygen is a non-metal that is essential for our life
• Non-metals are commonly used in fertilisers and manure to help enhance plant growth.
• They are used in the water purification process
• Non-metals are also used in manufacturing crackers

• What are metals and non-metals?

Elements that show malleability, ductility, electrical and heat conductivity, sonority, have lustre, and high tensile strength are called metals. Substances that do not show the properties mentioned above are called non-metals.

• Which materials are called non-metals?

Some common examples of non metals include– wood, plastic, composites, polymers, glass, etc.

• Which of the materials are metals?

Common examples of metals include copper, aluminium, gold, silver, lead, among others.

• What are the 5 properties of metals?

Five properties of metals that differentiate them from non-metals include–

• Malleability
• Ductility
• Conductivity
• Sonority
• Lustre

• Is Si a metal?

Si is the symbol for silicon, it is a metalloid. It is a better conductor of electricity than a non-metal, but not as good as a metal.

• How are metals made?

Metals are always found naturally in the environment, and there are two processes to get them. First, the metal is extracted from an ore and then refined to separate the metal from their oxides and made useful.

There is a lot more to understanding and identifying metals and non-metals. MSVgo offers a host of comprehensive and comprehensible video material and content for a sound understanding of the materials by which the world around you is made of. Visit now to know your physical world slightly better!