Comparison of physical and chemical properties of metals and non – metals:-

S.No Property Metals Non-Metals

Metals are solid at room Non-metals generally
1 Physical State temperature. Except mercury exist as solids and gases, except
and gallium. Bromine.
Metals generally have Non-metals have low
Melting and boiling
2 high m.pt and b.pt except m.pt and b.pt except diamond
points
gallium and cesium. and graphite.
3 Density Generally high. Generally low.
Malleability and Neither malleable nor
4 Malleable and ductile.
Ductility ductile.
Generally poor
Electrical and thermal Good conductors of heat
5 conductors of heat and
conductivity and electricity.
electricity except graphite.
Do not have luster
6 Luster Poses shining luster.
except iodine.
Give sonorous sound Does not give
7 Sonorous sound
when struck. sonorous sound.
Generally hard except Solid non-metals are
8 Hardness
Na, K generally soft except diamond.

Comparison of Chemical Properties of Metals and Non-metals:-

Non-metal + Oxygen →Non-metal

Metal + Oxygen→Metal oxide
4Na(s) + O2(g) →2Na2O(s)
4Al(s) + 3O2(g) →2Al2O3
Metals form basic oxides
Reaction Zn and Al form amphoteric oxides
1 with (they show the properties of both
Oxygen acidic and basic oxides)
Most of the metal oxides are
insoluble in water Some of them
dissolve to form Alkali
Na2O(s) + H2O(l) →2NaOH(aq)
Metals react with water to
Reaction form metal oxides or metal
2 with hydroxide and H2 gas is released.
water 2Na(s) + 2H2O(l) →2NaOH +
H2(g) + heat
oxide
C + O2 →CO2
S + O2 →SO2
Non-metals form acidic
oxides
CO and HO2O are neutral
oxides(they are neither acidic nor
basic in nature) Non- metal oxides
are soluble in water
They dissolve in water to form
acids
SO2 + H2O →H2SO3
Non-metals do not react
with water, steam to evolve
hydrogen gas. Because Non-
metals cannot give electrons to
hydrogen in water so that it can be
released as H2 gas.
 Metal + Acid →Metal salt +
Hydrogen

HCl Non-metals do not react with acids

Mg(s) + 2HCl(aq)→ MgCl2(aq) + to release H2 gas
Reaction H2(g) Reason- Non-metals cannot loose
with H2SO4 electrons and give it to Hydrogen
3
dilute 2Na(s) + H2SO2→ Na2SO4(aq) ions of acids so that the gas is
Acids +H2(g) released.
HNO3 Mn + 2HNO3→ Mn(NO3)2 + H2
Metal + HNO3→ H2 gas is not H2 gas from HNO3
displaced.
Reason- HNO3 is strong oxidizing
agent.
When non-metals react
When metals react with salt
with salt solution, more reactive
solution, more reactive metal will
Reaction non-metal will displace a less
displace a less reactive metal from
4 with salt reactive non-metal from its salt
its salt solution.
solutions solution.
CuSO4(aq) + n(s)→ ZnSO4(aq) +
2NaBr(aq) + Cl2(g)→ 2NaCl(aq) +
Cu(s)
Br2(aq)
Non-metal + Chlorine→Non-
metal Chloride
Metal + Chlorine→ Metal Chloride
Reaction
ionic bond is formed. Therefore covalent bond is formed.
5 with
Ionic compound is obtained. 2Na+ Therefore covalent compound is
Chlorine
Cl2 → 2NaCl obtained. H2(g) + Cl2 → 2HCl

Metals react with hydrogen

Reaction to form metal hydride This reaction Non-metals react with hydrogen to
6 with takes place only for most reactive form hydrides H2(g) + S(l) →
Hydrogen metals. 2Na(s)+ H2(g) → H2S(g)
2NaH(s)

Properties of ionic
compounds
solid and hard due to strong force of attraction.
1. Physical nature :
(generally brittle)
Melting point and have high M.P and B.P, as large amount of heat
2. :
boiling point energy is required to break strong ionic attraction.
soluble in water and insoluble in kerosene and
3. Solubility :
pertrol.
4. Conduction of : ionic compounds in solid state-----does not conduct
 electricity electricity.
Reason—Ions can not move due to rigid solid structure. Ionic compounds conduct
electricity in molten state.
Reason-- Ions can move freely since the electrostatic forces of attraction between the
oppositely charged ions are overcome due to heat.