2. • A metal is an element or compound that is a good conductor of both electricity
and heat. Metals are usually malleable, ductile and shiny In a metal, atoms lose
electrons to form positive ions.
IRON SILVER
ALLOY-
• An alloy is a mixture of two or more elements in solid solution in which the major
component is a metal. Most pure metals are either too soft, brittle for practical
use. Combining different ratios of metals as alloys modifies the properties of pure
metals to produce different characteristics. The aim of making alloys is generally
to make them less brittle, harder, resistant to corrosion, or have a more desirable
colour and lustre.

3. THE FOLLOWING ARE THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF METALS-
• Metals are malleable : Metals can be hammered or beaten into thin sheets
without breaking. Malleable means that metallic bonds in the metals do not
break easily. Gold (Au), silver (Ag) are highly malleable elements. Metals can be
made into thin foils because they are malleable.
• Metals are ductile : Metals can be melted and drawn into thin wires. Because of
this property, metals are known as ductile. The ductility property follows from the
malleability property. While being drawn into wires, metals are stretched.
Because of the strong metallic bonds, the metal atoms do not separate easily.
Silver (Ag), copper (Cu), aluminium (Al) are very ductile, very thin wires can be
made out of these elements.
• Metals are good conductors of heat and electricity : In metals, the bonds are
formed by excess or free electrons moving around large array of atoms. These
electrons are able to conduct electricity and heat. Silver (Ag), copper (Cu),
aluminum (Al) are good conductors of heat and electricity. Amongst metals, lead
(Pb) is a poor conductor of electricity.
• Melting and boiling points : All metals, other than sodium (Na) and potassium
(K), have high melting and boiling points. The melting point of iron is about
1540C.
• Metals are sonorous : Metals make a characteristic sound when hit with an
object. Thus metals are sonorous. The sonorousness of metals depends on the
temperature and density.

5. Non-metals don’t have a rigorous definition. They are called non metals because they
are-
• dull and brittle(in physical form), rather than metals which are lustrous, ductile or
malleable
• Poor conductors of heat.
• usually less dense than metals.
• significantly less in their melting points and boiling points than metals (with the
exception of carbon)
Some non-metal elements are-
• HYDROGEN (H₂)
• OXYGEN (O₂)
• SULPHUR (S)
• PHOSPHOUROUS (P)etc.

6. THE FOLLOWING ARE THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF NON METALS-
• Non-metals are not malleable or brittle : Non-metals cannot be hammered or
beaten into thin sheets without breaking. Non-metals break into pieces when
hammered or stretched. Sulphur, phosphorous are powders and cannot be
made into a sheet.
• Non-metals are not ductile : Non-metals cannot be melted and drawn into thin
wires. The non-ductility property follows from the non-malleability or the
brittleness property.
• Non-metals are bad conductors of heat and electricity : In non-metals, the
bonds formed are weak as there are no free electrons to share. Other than
graphite, which is an another form of carbon, none of the non-metals are good
conductors of heat and electricity. Graphite is able to conduct electricity
because of its special crystalline arrangement.
• Melting and boiling points : All non-metals, have low melting and boiling
points. The melting point of sulphur (S) is 115C. Graphite and diamonds have
high melting points, but these are exceptions in the non-metals.
• Non-metals are not sonorous : Non-metals do not make any characteristic
sound when hit with an object. Thus non-metals are not sonorous.