Taryn Snyder

Chemistry A
Title:
Metal vs. Non-metals
Purpose:
The purpose of this lab is to explore the properties of metals and nonmetals.
Hypothesis:
The metals will not be malleable, while the non-metals will be brittle. The metals will
be a conductor, while the non-metals will be a nonconductor.
Procedure:
1- Put on safety goggles and do not remove them until the end.
2- Record physical properties of each element.
3- Test conductivity by touching both electrodes to element, while not
allowing electrodes to touch.
4- Tap each element with a hammer to test malleability.
5- Reactivity with Copper Chloride
A- Label 7 well plate a-g
B- Place a small amount of each element in its well
C- Add 15-20 drops of copper chloride to each sample
D- Observe for 3-5 minutes. Decide reactions
E- Discard well plate
6- Reactivity with Acid
A- Repeat steps 5A and 5B
B- Add 15-20 drops of acid
*Hydrochloric acid chemically attacks skin, notify teacher if any
gets on skin
C- Observe and record

D- Discard well plate

7- wash hands
Data:
Elements
tested

Appearanc
e

Conductivi
ty

Malleabilit
y

Reactivity
with
Copper
chloride

Reactivity
with
Hydrochlor
ic Acid

Carbon

Black, no
luster

Dull

Powder,
brittle

No reaction

No reaction

Copper

Luster

Bright

Malleable

No reaction

No reaction

Magnesiu
m

Luster when
new

Bright

Malleable

Fizzing

Fizzing

Silicon

Silver,
Luster

Dull

Brittle

No reaction

No reaction

Sulfur

No luster,
Yellow

No

Brittle,
powder

No reaction

No reaction

Zinc

Luster,
silver

Bright

malleable

Bubbling

No reaction

Data Analysis/Questions:
1. The physical tests are the conduct conductivity test and the crushing test.
The chemical test are the test with to reactivity to copper chloride and hydrochloric
acid.
2. Copper, zinc, and magnesium are metals, and carbon, silicon, and sulfur
are non-metals.
3.Carbon and silicon could be put in either group because they are brittle, but
conductive.
4. Metals are copper, zinc, and magnesium.
Non-metals are sulfur.
Metalloids are carbon and silicon.
Discussions/Conclusion:
My hypothesis was both correct and incorrect. The nonmetals with brittle, but unlike
I said the metals were malleable. The next part of my hypothesis was for the most

part correct, except the metalloids were conductive, but the metals were conductive
like I stated. I learned that there are metalloids which have both the properties of
metals and nonmetals. I accomplish the purpose well and properly explore the
properties of metals and nonmetals. The result was understanding what properties
of metals, nonmetals, and metalloids were and my answers were pretty accurate
and it is close to an accepted value. The only error there might have been was not
watching the reactants long enough, but it wouldn't highly effective value.