TEACHGYAN · CLASS 10 · SCIENCE · CHAPTER 3
Metals and Non-metals
Premium chapter notes · NCERT-aligned · CBSE 2026–27
1. Metals and non-metals around us
Iron, copper, aluminium and gold are examples of metals. Oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur and carbon are examples of non-metals. Their physical and chemical properties help us understand their uses in daily life and industry.
2. Physical properties
| Property | Most metals | Most non-metals |
|---|---|---|
| Lustre | Usually shiny | Usually dull |
| Hardness | Usually hard | Often soft or brittle solids |
| Malleability | Can be beaten into sheets | Generally not malleable |
| Ductility | Can be drawn into wires | Generally not ductile |
| Conductivity | Usually good conductors | Usually poor conductors |
| Sonority | Usually sonorous | Generally non-sonorous |
3. Chemical properties of metals
Metals react with oxygen, water and dilute acids in different ways. Their tendency to react varies from metal to metal. Many metal oxides are basic, although some, such as aluminium oxide and zinc oxide, are amphoteric.
2Mg + O₂ → 2MgO
Magnesium burns with a dazzling white flame and forms magnesium oxide.
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