Name: _____________________________________________
Date: __________________________ Period: ___________
Physical Properties of Metals, Nonmetals and Metalloids: Comparative Investigation
Essential Question
How can you use physical properties such as luster, conductivity, and malleability to compare metals, nonmetals, and metalloids?
Introduction: Students will be investigating color, luster, malleability and conductivity of a variety of elemental samples. Students will
investigate a variety of samples in order to develop their own definition for metal, nonmetal, and metalloid, and to classify according to
their physical properties the element samples provided.
Materials:
Elemental samples, magnifying lens, pliers or hammer, conductivity tester, hot plate, beaker, magnet, gloves, goggles, Periodic Table of
Elements
Safety:
Remember never to eat or drink anything in lab.
Wear gloves and goggles.
Procedure:
1. Observe the element samples at each station.
2. Record the element name and symbol in your data table.
3. Determine how you can safely test the element for all of the physical properties listed in the data table without destroying the element
sample.
4. Conduct your tests and record your observations in the correct column of the data table for each sample you observe.
5. Record any additional observations of the physical properties of the element below the data table.
6. Clean up any mess you made at the station and return all materials as you found them.
7. Predict whether the element is a metal, nonmetal or metalloid and record your prediction in the data table.
8. Once you have completed all stations locate all of the elements on the Periodic Table of Elements and classify them as metals, nonmetals
or metalloids. Record the correct classification on your data table. Then answer the post – lab questions.
When you have finished, answer the post-lab questions below.
1. Write your own definition for:
Metals –
Non-Metals –
2. Based upon the data you collected about physical properties, why do you think copper used in household electrical wire?
3. Based upon the data you collected about physical properties, why is sulfur not used as a building material?
4. How are the physical properties of metals different than the properties of non-metals?
5. Making a connection: Why is it possible that carbon/graphite can conduct electricity even though it is a non-metal?
Observations:
Physical Properties
Element
Name and
Symbol
Color
Shiny or
dull
(luster)
Malleable
(bendable)
or brittle
Solid,
Liquid,
or Gas
Conductor
or Insulator
of heat
Conductor
or Insulator
of electricity
Magnetic or
Nonmagnetic
Metal,
Non-metal or
Metalloid
Metal,
Non-metal or
Metalloid
(Prediction using
observations)
(use Periodic Table after
completing all stations)