METALS

Metals are hard. They are ductile.

They can be made into thin wires.
They are also malleable. They can be
hammered without breaking them.
They are also good conductors of
heat and electricity. These
properties of metals make them
useful in our daily life.
 Aluminum, calcium, silver,
copper, gold and iron are some
common metals with many uses.
Aluminum is the most common
metalic element in the earth’s
crust. It is used in manufacture
of aluminum foil, door knobs,
kitchen utensils and air planes.
Copper is a cheap metal. It is
used for electrical wirings.
 Silver and gold were used
before in the manufacture of
coins. They are also known as
coinage metals. However, they
cannot be used to electrical
wirings because they are
expensive. Instead, they are
used for jewelry making.
Zinc is used in making galvanized
sheets of iron. It is also used in
steel making.
Calcium is used in the
production of steel and glass. It
is also utilized in constructing
roads.
Metallic elements are also useful in
some biological processes taking
place in our body systems. Cobalt,
iron, and calcium are some of them.
Cobalt is present in Vitamin B12
used for the treatment of anemia.
What are some foods that are rich in
Vitamin B12? You should eat these to
keep you fit and healthy.
 Iron is responsible for the red
pigment of blood. Pregnant
mothers are advised by their
obstetricians to eat foods that
are rich in iron like malunggay
leaves to replace the iron being
transferred to fetus.
Calcium is present in our bones
and teeth. Food rich in calcium
like eggs and milk are needed to
maintain strong bones and teeth.
 NON METALS
Non-metals easily break. They
cannot be hammered and
molded without breaking. They
are insulators. Like metals,
non-metals have many uses
also.
 Oxygen is the most abundant
element on earth. Compounds of
oxygen are important to living
things. Carbon dioxide and water
are some examples. Carbon
dioxide contains carbon and
oxygen. Water contains hydrogen
and oxygen.
 Plants need carbon dioxide and
water when they make their own
food. Humans inhale oxygen and
exhale carbon dioxide. This is
known as respiration. Water is
very useful in industries and in
our homes.
Men and women need water in
almost all of their daily chores.
Washing, cleaning, laundering,
bathing and cooking. Water is
also present in many foods.
 Oxygen is also used in
wielding and in converting
iron (a metal) to steel. Since
it is gas, it can be
compressed in tanks. For
example, oxygen tanks are
given to patients who find
difficulty breathing.
 Sulfur is another non-metal that
occurs on earth in its pure form. It
is not in combination with any
element unlike oxygen. It has yellow
collor. Amino acids, the major
components of proteins, contains
sulfur. The odor of garlic, onion and
mustard is due to sulfur.
 Nitrogen on the other hand,
exists as nitrogen gas. Nitrogen
gas is a combination of two
nitrogen atoms. It is present in
plants and animals in the form of
proteins. In its nitrate form (a
compound nitrogen), it is used in
making fertilizers.
 Metalloids
Metalloids behave like metals
and non-metals. They have the
same physical appearance as
metals. They behave chemically
like non-metals.
 Silicon is the second most
abundant element on earth. It
occurs mainly in the form of silica
and sand. Silica is a combination of
silicon and oxygen. It is used in
making cement and glass. Sand
also contains silicon.
 Silicon is used in the
semiconductors industry. It
is used to make microchips.
These are very tiny devices
used in manufacture of
computers.
 Characteristic
properties of metals,
metalloids and non-
metals
 Property Metals Metalloids Non-metals

Appearance Shiny surface Can be shiny or dull Dull

(metallic luster)

Ductility/Mallea Malleable and Shapes is easily Brittle, hard or soft,

bility ductile (flexible) as changed tend to break
solids

Boiling High melting point, Vary Widely Low melting point

point/Melting high density and low density
point
Conductivity Conduct heat and Tend to make good Poor conductors of
electricity semiconductors heat and electricity

Nature of Metallic oxides are Oxides can be acidic Acidic in nature

solution/type of basic in nature, or basic exhibit
ionic bonded, form amphoteric
bonds ionic compounds property