CHEMISTRY

MATERIAL PROPERTIES
METALS AND NON METALS
Learning objectives
By the end of the lesson, I should be able;
To give examples of metals and non-metals.
To explain the properties of metals and non-metals.
To identify everyday materials and their uses.
 METALS
• Metals are very useful materials.
• Materials are substances from which objects are made.
Examples of metals include;
Iron is used for bridges because its strong.
Gold is used for jewellery because its shiny
Stainless steel is used for cooking pans because its strong and doesnot
rust
Copper is used for conducting electricity because its flexible and a good
conductor.
Properties of metals
• They are usually shiny when polished or freshly cut.
• Metals ring like a bell when you hit them.
• Metals are strong and tough. Therefore don’t crack easily when
dropped.
• The are malleable therefore, can be hammered into shapes.
• They are ductile therefore can be drawn out into wires.
• They don’t easily melt. Mercury is the only metal that is a liquid at room
temperature.
• Some metals are magnetic for example iron, steel, nickel and cobalt.
• Metals are good conductors of heat
QUESTIONS
1. List ten metals
2. Why are gold and platinum used for jewellery
3. Why is copper so useful?
4. What are Olympic medals made from?
NON-METALS
• Non-metals are useful because of their chemical reactions.
Properties of non-metals
They are usually dull.
They are not strong as metals.
The solid non-metals are brittle.
Many are gases.
Non-metals are poor conductors of heat and electricity therefore good
insulators.
The non-metals that are not gases have low melting points and low
boiling points.
Examples of non-metals include;
• Sulfur which is added to rubber to make it hard
• Pure oxygen which is used in hospitals by people with breathing
difficulties.
• Chlorine is used to kill bacteria.
• Carbon is used to purify water.
• Silicon is used to make computer chips.
Everyday materials and their properties.
• Many different materials are used to make clothes, buildings.
Plastic
Plastic can be transparent or opaque. It can be moulded into different shapes.
Plastic can be used for containers for food and drink. It doesn’t react with
food.
Plastic is light in weight and can be coloured brightly.
Some plastic can be recycled.
But plastic takes a very long time to break down and this causes problems with
disposal and litter.
Plastic is also affected by heat and may change shape.
Glass
Glass is transparent. This property is good for windows.
Glass is waterproof. It does not react with the food or drink inside the
jar or bottle.
It can be recyecled.
ceramics
Ceramics can withstand high temperatures.
They are hard, brittle and very strong.
Ceramics are used for floor tiles, sinks and the tiles on the outside of
the space shuttle.

Fibres
Fibres can be natural (made from living materials such as silk or cotton)
or synthetic ( made from other chemicals). Fibres are tiny threads so
they can be strong and bendy.