Properties of Metals This presentation shows the main properties of metals and their meanings.

Malleable This property means that metals can be hit without shattering. They can be hammered into shape, even when cold and not break into lots of small pieces.

Shiny Most metals are silvery in colour, except copper and gold. Some go dull over time. All metals are shiny when freshly cut.

Conductors They are very good conductors of heat and electricity. This is why they are used for pots and pans and in electrical circuits to carry the current.

Ductile This property means that metals can stretched very thinly without them breaking. This is why they can be drawn out into wires.

Sonorous This property refers to the sound that metals make when they are hit. Metals make a ringing sound when they are struck.

Physical Properties of Non- Metals

Thermal Insulator Thermal insulators do not let heat pass through them. Wool is made out of non-metal elements like Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen and Sulphur

Brittle This means that it is likely to break if you drop it.

Electrical Insulator Non-Metals are poor electrical conductors. They therefore make good electrical insulators because they cannot conduct electricity The PVC coating on electrical wires is made of the non-metals Carbon, Hydrogen and Chlorine.

Dull Non-Metals do not have a shiny surface like metals. They are usually dull in appearance

Physical Properties of Non-Metals T hermal insulator B rittle E lectrical insulator D ull