Metal or non-metal

Metal or non-metal

Pencil and paper
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Further Resources
This task is about testing elements to see if the are metal or non-metal.
Carry out a series of tests on the elements listed below to find out if they are a metal, or a non-metal. Elements to be tested; magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), carbon (C), sulfur (S), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iodine (I), and aluminium (Al). You will need to carry out tests for; lustre, electrical conductivity, malleability.  
The melting point of these elements has been put in the table.
 
Tests:
  1. Malleability – does it bend or can it be beaten into shape?
  2. Electrical conductivity – set up a simple circuit using a cell, wires, and bulb.
  3. Lustre – does it shine when it is scratched or sanded?
a)
Complete this table with your results.
 
 Element  Malleability
(yes or no?)		  Melting point
(high or low?)		  Electrical conductivity  Lustre
(yes or no?)
Magnesium   648°C    
Calcium   839°C    
Carbon (graphite)   3550°C    
Sulfur   112°C    
Zinc   419°C    
Copper   1083°C    
Iodine No 113°C No No
Aluminium   660°C    
 
 
Check your results with your teacher tick box for teacher
b)
Which elements appear to have the same characteristics? Place these elements into two groups based on these characteristics
 
Group 1:  ____________________  Group 2:  ____________________ 
 
c)
i)
Name any element(s) which does/do not appear to fit easily into either of these two groups.
 
 
  ii)
Why did you decide that this element(s) did not fit in with the others? ;
 
 
 
d)
Look at a periodic table. On which side do you find the elements that do not have lustre,
 
malleability, or can not conduct electricity? ____________________
Task administration: 
This task can be completed with pencil and paper and other equipment.
 
Equipment:
Small pieces (or strips for malleability test) of magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), carbon (C), sulfur (S), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iodine (I) observation only, and aluminium (Al); sandpaper; cell; wires; bulb; periodic table.
After students have completed part a) you will need to check their results before they complete the rest of the task.
Level:
5
Curriculum info: 
Science, Investigating in science, Material World
Key Competencies: 
Thinking
Keywords: 
physical properties, metals, non-metals, classification, practical
Description of task: 
This practical task requires students to carry out three tests to find out if each element is a metal or non-metal.
Curriculum Links: 
Science capabilities
The capabilities focus is brought about by the conversations you have and the questions you ask.
 
Capability: Gather and interpret data
This resource provides opportunities to recognise and carry out reliable methods and interpret valid data in investigations.
Science capability: Gather and interpret data (TKI)
Answers/responses: 
a) Table completed accurately, see below.
b)

Group 1: Mg, Ca, Zn, Cu, Al
Group 2: S, I, (C)
Group number is inter-changeable, carbon may or may not be present.
c)

Carbon
Because it conducts electricity/has features that do not fit the pattern of any of the other elements.
d) Right side

 

Element

Malleability
(yes or no?)

Melting point
(high or low?)

Electrical conductivity

Lustre
(yes or no?)

Magnesium

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648°C

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Calcium

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839°C

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Carbon (graphite)

 cross

3550°C

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Sulfur

 cross

112°C

 cross cross

Zinc

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419°C

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Copper

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1083°C

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Iodine

 cross

113°C

 cross cross

Aluminium

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660°C

 tick tick