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?
TEKS/SE
6.6 Matter and energy. The student knows matter has physical properties that can be used for
classification. The student is expected to:
A. compare metals, nonmetals, and metalloids using physical properties such as luster,
conductivity, or malleability
Introduction: Students will be investigating color, luster, malleability, magnetism 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 per group:
 Conductivity tester
 Elemental sample(s)
 Magnifying glass
 Periodic Table
 Hammer
 Magnet
 Elemental Samples: aluminum, copper, iron (washer), zinc, carbon, sulfur, silicon, lead and
tin