1. Metal, Nonmetal, or Metalloid Prelab
Click through the slides with your partner, completing your worksheet as you go.
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2. 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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3. Color Code the Metals: Green
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4. 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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5. Color Code the Nonmetals: Blue
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6. 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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7. Color Code the Metalloids: Purple
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8. 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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9. 1. What is this sample?
An unknown sample is a liquid, and conducts heat very well. It is also shiny.
Metal
Nonmetal
Metalloid

10. 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
Malleable and Ductile or Brittle?
Malleable and Ductile
Brittle
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11. 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
Malleable and Ductile or Brittle?
Malleable and Ductile
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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12. 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

13. 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
Malleable and Ductile or Brittle?
Malleable and Ductile
Brittle
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14. 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
Malleable and Ductile or Brittle?
Malleable and Ductile
Brittle
Most of the properties for metalloid are highlighted from the description of the unknown, so it is likely a metalloid.
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15. 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.

16. Appearance
Use your eyes (not hands, mouth, or anything else) to observe the sample.
Is it shiny? Dull?
What color is it? Silvery, or something else?
What state of matter is it in? Solid? Liquid? Gas?
Boron, Metalloid
Silicon, Metalloid
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17. 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
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Calcium, Metal

18. Copper can be hammered into a bowl or wire.
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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19. Zinc reacts with acid (HCl) to produce hydrogen gas bubbles.
Reaction with HCl
Zinc, Metal
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).
Zinc reacts with acid (HCl) to produce hydrogen gas bubbles.
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20. Gallium, Metal. Melts at body temperature.
Melting Point
Heat the sample until it melts.
This may require VERY high temperatures, and thus cannot be done in a classroom.
Iron, Metal. Melts at 2800°F.
Gallium, Metal. Melts at body temperature.
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21. Click Here for Properties Page
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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