Metals & Non-Metals

This lesson covers:

  1. The properties of metals and non-metals
  2. The features of transition metals

gain / lose / positive / negative


When metal atoms react, they electron(s) from their outer shell. 


This creates ions with a charge. 

lose
positive

0

/

2

Diagram showing the electron shell structure of a fluorine atom with 7 electrons in its outer shell.

Fluorine atoms have 7 electrons in their outer shell. In chemical reactions, do they gain or lose electron(s)?

Gain

Lose

0

/

1

Select three general properties of metals:

Good conductors of heat 

Malleable

Sonorous (produce a ringing sound when struck)

Low boiling and melting points

Low density

Brittle

0

/

3

Illustration of a bent metal bar showing malleability.

metallic / malleable / brittle / shiny


Metals are very strong, as the ions are held together by bonds. 


They also tend to be , which means they can bend without breaking. 


Non-metals, in contrast, break easily, and so are said to be .

metallic
malleable
brittle

0

/

3

Many transition metals can be used as catalysts. What is the definition of a catalyst?

A substance that can speed up a chemical reaction without being used up

A metal which produces a ringing sound when struck

A compound containing both metal and non-metal elements

0

/

1

Diagram showing different coloured solutions of transition metal ions with charges 2+, 3+, and 6+.

Transition metals share the same properties as metals, however, they have their own section of the periodic table between groups 2 and 3. 


These metals can create ions of different charges, and form different coloured solutions.