Metals and Non-metals
Class 10 · Science
4 ideas in Class 10 Science, explained in plain words, with games and quizzes to practise.
Physical Properties and Exceptions
Part of: Properties and behaviour of metals
Many metals are shiny, can be shaped, and conduct heat and electricity. These are useful clues, but not perfect rules: iodine is a shiny non-metal and graphite conducts electricity.
Why it matters. Using several clues prevents a single unusual property from leading to a wrong classification. It also helps explain why a material is chosen for a particular use.
Try it in two minutes
- Name a metal object and ask which property suits its use.
- Compare a metal wire with a piece of sulphur in how each could be shaped.
- Recall one non-metal that has a property often linked with metals.
Try at home. Make a two-column list of metal and non-metal properties, then add one exception to each pattern.
Reactions of Metals and Relative Reactivity
Part of: Properties and behaviour of metals
Metals react at different rates. Their reactions can form oxides, hydrogen gas or new salts, and a more reactive metal can replace a less reactive one from a solution.
Why it matters. Comparing reactions helps predict whether a metal will react with water, dilute acid or another metal compound. It also explains why reactive metals need careful storage.
Try it in two minutes
- Review what happens when a metal reacts with oxygen.
- Compare the response of sodium, calcium and magnesium to water.
- Use a metal displacement example to decide which metal is more reactive.
Try at home. Draw arrows showing how the reactivity order changes from the most reactive metal to the least reactive one.
Electron Transfer and Ionic Compounds
Part of: Ions and metal use
A metal can lose outer electrons and become a positive ion. A non-metal can gain electrons and become negative. Their opposite charges attract, forming an ionic compound.
Why it matters. Electron transfer explains why many metal and non-metal compounds form and why their solid and molten forms conduct electricity differently.
Try it in two minutes
- Sketch an atom with one outer electron and another needing one electron.
- Show the electron moving from the metal to the non-metal.
- Compare the ions when the compound is solid and when it is dissolved.
Try at home. Use counters to model one sodium electron moving to a chlorine atom, then label the charges.
Metal Extraction, Corrosion and Alloys
Part of: Ions and metal use
Metal ores are cleaned and processed differently depending on how reactive the metal is. After extraction, metals may be refined, protected from corrosion or mixed with other elements to improve their properties.
Why it matters. These choices help explain why some metals need electrolysis, why iron rusts in damp air and why mixtures such as stainless steel are useful.
Try it in two minutes
- Sort a few metals by high, middle or low reactivity.
- Match each group with the extraction approach described in the chapter.
- Compare an iron object with a zinc-coated or alloyed iron object.
Try at home. Choose a metal object and identify whether it is coated, alloyed, or likely to corrode if left damp.
What your child will practise
- Electron Transfer and Ionic Compounds: Jungle Quick Fire (Quick Fire)
- Metal Extraction, Corrosion and Alloys: Candy Quick Fire (Quick Fire)
- Metal Extraction, Corrosion and Alloys: Ocean Puzzle (Clue Puzzle)
- Physical Properties and Exceptions: Lab Explorer Sort (Sort It Out)
- Reactions of Metals and Relative Reactivity: Mission Control Quest (Collect the Answer)
- Quiz: Electron Transfer and Ionic Compounds (8 questions)
- Quiz: Metal Extraction, Corrosion and Alloys (8 questions)
- Quiz: Physical Properties and Exceptions (8 questions)
- Quiz: Reactions of Metals and Relative Reactivity (8 questions)