Chapter 4 — The World of Metals and Non-metals
All activities, tables, in-text questions and the full “Let Us Enhance Our Learning” exercise — solved with the textbook’s own figures.
Anandi: What materials are the items made of? And why is Sudarshan beating the red-hot iron block? Can other metals also be beaten flat?
- Materials used: iron for the items (tawa, balti, chimta, phawra, kulhadi, khurpi, jelee), wood for the handles, and coal in the furnace to heat the iron.
- Why beating? Sudarshan beats the hot iron to shape it into an axe. Iron can be beaten into a flat shape without breaking.
- Yes, other metals can also be beaten into sheets — this property is called malleability, and it is the first property explored in this chapter.
Observe the appearance and hardness of copper, aluminium, an iron nail, coal, sulfur and wood. Then beat each with a hammer. Do they flatten or break? Complete Table 4.1.
| S.No. | Object / Material | Appearance | Hard / Soft | Effect of hammering | Nature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Piece of copper | Lustrous | Hard | Flattens into a sheet | Metal — malleable |
| 2 | Piece of aluminium | Lustrous | Hard | Flattens into a sheet | Metal — malleable |
| 3 | Iron nail | Lustrous | Hard | Flattens | Metal — malleable |
| 4 | Piece of coal | Non-lustrous (dull) | Soft / not as hard as metals | Breaks into pieces | Non-metal — brittle |
| 5 | Lump of sulfur | Non-lustrous (dull) | Soft | Breaks into pieces | Non-metal — brittle |
| 6 | Block of wood | Non-lustrous | Neither very hard nor very soft | Neither flattens nor breaks | Neither malleable nor brittle (not an element) |
Analysis of Table 4.1
- Lustrous and hard: copper, aluminium and iron. The shine shown by metals is called metallic lustre, and such materials are called metals.
- Coal, sulfur and wood are non-lustrous and not as hard as metals.
- Which objects flattened? Copper, aluminium and the iron nail. The property of being beaten into thin sheets is called malleability. Gold and silver are the most malleable metals.
- Examples of metal sheets: the thin silver foil (chandi ka varak) on sweets and aluminium foil for wrapping food.
- Coal and sulfur break into pieces → they are brittle. Wood does neither → it is neither malleable nor brittle.
• Sodium and potassium are so soft that they can be cut with a knife.
• Mercury is a metal that is liquid at room temperature (used in thermometers).
Holistic Lens: What could be the reason that copper is generally considered to have been discovered earlier than iron?
- Copper is often found in nature in a nearly pure (free) form, so early people could pick it up and use it directly. Iron is almost always found combined in ores, so it must first be extracted.
- Copper melts at a much lower temperature than iron. Early furnaces could not reach the very high temperature needed to work iron — that needed better furnace technology.
- Copper is softer and easier to hammer and shape with simple tools.
- That is why the Harappans used copper and gold for utensils and jewellery, but hardly any iron is found from their time.
Where do you find the use of metal wires? What is ductility? Are coal and sulfur ductile?
Uses of metal wires
- Electrical fittings — wires of copper and aluminium.
- Ornaments — bangles, necklaces, earrings.
- Stringed musical instruments — veena, sitar, violin, guitar.
- Household items like a tea strainer, wire mesh, and steel ropes.
Amazing fact: Gold is so ductile that 1 gram of gold can be drawn into a 2 kilometre-long wire!
Coal and sulfur are NOT ductile — we never see wires made of coal or sulfur; they are brittle and break.
Drop a metal spoon, a coin, a piece of coal and a block of wood from a height. Do you notice any difference in the sound produced?
| Object | Sound produced | Conclusion |
|---|---|---|
| Metal spoon | Ringing sound | Sonorous (metal) |
| Metal coin | Ringing sound | Sonorous (metal) |
| Piece of coal | Dull sound | Not sonorous (non-metal) |
| Block of wood | Dull sound | Not sonorous |
Everyday examples: the ringing of ghungroos, the school bell, temple bells, and cymbals — all due to the sonority of metals. A visually impaired person can even tell wood from metal by the sound of the walking stick.
A metal spoon and a wooden spoon are immersed in hot water. Which spoon gets hotter? What does this tell us about heat transfer? Why are cooking vessels made of metals?
Why wooden/plastic handles? Because these do not conduct heat, so our hands do not get burnt.
Using a tester circuit, test aluminium foil, iron nail, sulfur, copper wire, coal, dry wood, stone, rubber eraser and nylon rope. Which make the bulb glow? Complete Table 4.2. Also — why does an electrician use a screwdriver with a plastic handle and wear rubber gloves?
| S.No. | Object / Material | Prediction | Observation (bulb) | Conclusion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Piece of aluminium foil | Glows | Glows ✔ | Good conductor of electricity (metal) |
| 2 | Iron nail | Glows | Glows ✔ | Good conductor (metal) |
| 3 | Copper wire | Glows | Glows ✔ | Good conductor (metal) |
| 4 | Lump of sulfur | Does not glow | Does not glow ✘ | Poor conductor (non-metal) |
| 5 | Piece of coal | Does not glow | Does not glow ✘ | Poor conductor |
| 6 | Piece of dry wood | Does not glow | Does not glow ✘ | Poor conductor |
| 7 | Stone | Does not glow | Does not glow ✘ | Poor conductor |
| 8 | Rubber eraser | Does not glow | Does not glow ✘ | Poor conductor |
| 9 | Nylon rope | Does not glow | Does not glow ✘ | Poor conductor |
The pattern
All the materials that make the bulb glow are metals. Materials that let electricity flow easily are good conductors of electricity; those that do not are poor conductors of electricity.
In which condition does an iron nail develop brown deposits — dry air only, water only, or both air and water? Complete Table 4.3 and conclude.
| Glass bottle | Set-up | Presence of water | Presence of air | Observation after 8–10 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Nail + silica gel, capped (silica gel keeps the air dry) | No | Yes (dry air) | No brown deposit — nail stays shining |
| B | Nail fully in boiled and cooled water with an oil layer on top, capped (oil keeps air out) | Yes | No | No brown deposit |
| C | Nail partly in water, bottle kept open — nail touches both water and air | Yes | Yes | Brown deposit forms ✔ |
Conclusion
Corrosion and its prevention
- Other metals also change on exposure to air: a green coating on copper, a black coating on silver.
- The gradual deterioration of a metal surface caused by air, water or other substances is called corrosion.
- Rusting can be prevented by: painting, oiling, greasing, and coating iron with a thin layer of zinc (galvanisation).
Burn a magnesium ribbon. What do you observe? What is the white powder? Is its solution acidic, basic or neutral? Also — can you predict the nature of sodium’s oxide?
Magnesium + Oxygen → Magnesium oxide
Nature of sodium’s oxide: sodium is a metal, so sodium oxide is also BASIC. (Sodium is stored in kerosene because it reacts vigorously with oxygen and water, releasing a lot of heat — the kerosene keeps air and moisture away.)
Burn sulfur in a gas jar, dissolve the gas in water and test with an indicator. What do you observe?
Sulfur + Oxygen → Sulfur dioxide
Sulfur dioxide + Water → Sulfurous acid
Add a small amount of water to some sulfur powder in a glass tumbler. What do you observe? Does sulfur behave in water the way metals do?
- No reaction takes place when sulfur is placed in water. Generally, non-metals do not react with water.
- Phosphorus is an exception in the opposite sense — it is stored in water because it catches fire when exposed to air.
What are non-metals?
Substances like sulfur and phosphorus are non-metals. They are usually:
- Soft and dull (non-lustrous) in appearance
- Neither malleable nor ductile (they are brittle)
- Not sonorous
- Poor conductors of heat and electricity
- Their oxides are acidic
Other non-metals: oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon, chlorine, iodine.
Dive Deeper: Metals and non-metals are sub-categories of elements. An element is a substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances. At present 118 elements are known.
4.5 Are non-metals essential in everyday life? Can you think of uses of oxygen and other non-metals?
| Non-metal | Why it is essential |
|---|---|
| Oxygen | We breathe it in — we cannot survive without it. Also used in hospitals (oxygen cylinders), for burning fuels, in welding, and by divers and mountaineers. |
| Carbon | The building block of all life forms — a key component of proteins, fats and carbohydrates needed for growth and energy. |
| Nitrogen | Used to manufacture fertilisers and other chemicals; an essential nutrient for plant growth. |
| Chlorine | Commonly used in water purification. |
| Iodine | Its solution is applied on wounds as an antiseptic. |
Which metal is commonly used to make food packaging materials, as it is cheaper and its thin sheets can be folded easily into any shape?
(i) Aluminium (ii) Copper (iii) Iron (iv) Gold
Answer: (i) Aluminium
- Aluminium is highly malleable — it can be beaten into very thin sheets (aluminium foil) that fold easily.
- It is cheap and available in plenty; it is also light and does not rust like iron.
- Copper and gold are costly; iron is heavy and would rust — none of them is suitable for food wrapping.
Which of the following metals catches fire when it comes in contact with water?
(i) Copper (ii) Aluminium (iii) Zinc (iv) Sodium
Answer: (iv) Sodium
- Sodium reacts vigorously with water and oxygen, and a lot of heat is generated — so it can catch fire.
- This is why sodium is stored in kerosene, which keeps it away from air and moisture.
- Copper, aluminium and zinc do not catch fire on contact with water.
State with reasons whether the statements are True [T] or False [F].
| Statement | T / F | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| (i) Aluminium and copper are examples of non-metals used for making utensils and statues. | False | Aluminium and copper are metals — they are lustrous, hard, malleable, ductile and good conductors. (The use mentioned is correct; only the word “non-metals” is wrong.) |
| (ii) Metals form oxides with oxygen, the solution of which turns blue litmus red. | False | Metal oxides are BASIC. Their solution turns red litmus BLUE (as magnesium oxide did in Activity 4.6). It is non-metal oxides that are acidic and turn blue litmus red. |
| (iii) Oxygen is a non-metal essential for respiration. | True | Oxygen is a non-metal; we breathe it in and cannot survive without it. |
| (iv) Copper vessels are used for boiling water because they are good conductors of electricity. | False | Copper vessels are used because copper is a good conductor of HEAT. Being a good conductor of electricity has nothing to do with boiling water. |
Why are only a few metals suitable for making jewellery?
Only metals such as gold, silver and platinum are used for jewellery, because jewellery needs a special combination of properties:
- Highly lustrous — they have a beautiful, lasting shine (metallic lustre).
- Most malleable and ductile — they can be beaten into thin sheets and drawn into fine wires, so they can be shaped into delicate designs.
- Do not corrode — they do not rust or get a black/green coating easily, so the ornament keeps its shine for years. (Iron would rust, copper turns green, silver slowly turns black.)
- Rare and attractive, hence precious.
- Metals like sodium and potassium are too soft and reactive, and mercury is a liquid — clearly unusable.
Match Column I (uses) with the jumbled names in Column II.
| Column I (use) | Jumbled word | Unjumbled name | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| (i) Used in electrical wiring | P E P O R C | COPPER (metal) | (c) |
| (ii) Most malleable and ductile | O G D L | GOLD (metal) | (e) |
| (iii) Living organisms cannot survive without it | E N X Y G O | OXYGEN (non-metal) | (a) |
| (iv) Plants grow healthy when fertilisers containing it are added to the soil | T E N G O I N R | NITROGEN (non-metal) | (d) |
| (v) Used in water purification | N E C O H I R L | CHLORINE (non-metal) | (b) |
What happens when oxygen reacts with magnesium and with sulfur? What are the main differences in the nature of the products formed?
Magnesium + Oxygen → Magnesium oxide
Dissolved in water it turns red litmus blue → it is BASIC.Sulfur + Oxygen → Sulfur dioxide ; Sulfur dioxide + Water → Sulfurous acid
It turns blue litmus red → it is ACIDIC.| Point of difference | Magnesium (metal) | Sulfur (non-metal) |
|---|---|---|
| Product with oxygen | Magnesium oxide (white powder) | Sulfur dioxide (gas) |
| Nature of the oxide | Basic | Acidic |
| Effect on litmus | Turns red litmus blue | Turns blue litmus red |
Complete the following flow chart.
| Blank | Correct answer | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1st “?” (before + Air + Heat) | Magnesium (ribbon) | On burning in air it forms a white ash. |
| “Ash” | Magnesium oxide | The white powder formed by magnesium + oxygen. |
| 2nd “?” (after adding Water) | Solution of magnesium oxide (a basic solution) | Metal oxide dissolves in water to give a basic solution. |
| 3rd “?” (change in blue litmus solution) | No change — it remains blue | A base does not change blue litmus; it changes red litmus to blue (which is why the other box says “Blue”). |
From iron, copper, sulfur, coal, plastic, wood, cardboard — which material would you choose to make a pan for boiling water, and why?
Choice: COPPER (iron is the next best choice).
Why copper?
- It is a metal and a very good conductor of heat — heat passes quickly into the water, so it boils fast.
- It is hard, strong and malleable — it can be shaped into a pan and will not break.
- It has a high melting point — it will not melt or burn on the flame.
- It does not rust like iron (iron pans work well too, but they rust in moist air).
Why not the others?
| Material | Reason it is unsuitable |
|---|---|
| Sulfur, coal | Non-metals — brittle, poor conductors of heat, and they burn on a flame. |
| Plastic | Melts on heating and is a poor conductor of heat. |
| Wood, cardboard | Catch fire, and are poor conductors of heat. |
| Iron | Usable (good conductor, strong), but it rusts — copper is a better choice. |
Three iron nails are dipped in oil, water and vinegar. Which nail will not rust, and why?
The nail dipped in OIL will not rust.
| Nail dipped in | Rusts? | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Oil | Does NOT rust ✔ | The oil forms a protective layer that keeps both air and moisture away from the iron. Rusting needs air AND water together (Activity 4.5) — oil cuts off both. (Oiling is in fact a method of preventing rusting.) |
| Water | Rusts | Ordinary water has dissolved air (oxygen) in it, so both water and air are present. |
| Vinegar | Rusts (even faster) | Vinegar is an acid and it also contains water and dissolved air — acidic conditions speed up corrosion. |
How do the different properties of metals and non-metals determine their uses in everyday life?
Every use follows directly from a property — that is the big idea of this chapter.
| Property | Which materials | Use in everyday life |
|---|---|---|
| Malleability | Metals (gold, silver, aluminium) | Aluminium foil, silver varak on sweets, metal sheets, utensils, car bodies |
| Ductility | Metals (copper, aluminium, gold) | Electrical wires, ornaments, strings of veena/sitar/guitar, tea strainer, steel ropes for bridges and cranes |
| Sonority | Metals | Bells, ghungroos, cymbals, musical instruments |
| Good conductor of heat | Metals | Cooking vessels, pans, kettles, tawa |
| Poor conductor of heat | Wood, plastic (and non-metals) | Handles of vessels, ladles, oven mitts |
| Good conductor of electricity | Metals (copper) | Electrical wiring, switches, plug pins |
| Poor conductor of electricity | Plastic, rubber | Covering of wires, screwdriver handles, electrician’s gloves and shoes |
| Hardness & strength | Iron, steel | Tools, machines, bridges, buildings, farming implements |
| Lustre + resistance to corrosion | Gold, silver, platinum | Jewellery, coins, decorative items |
| Chemical properties of non-metals | Oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, chlorine, iodine | Respiration, food/energy, fertilisers, water purification, antiseptic |
Iron is protected from rusting by a thin coating of zinc. Since sulfur does not react with water, can sulfur be used for this purpose? Justify.
No, sulfur cannot be used to coat iron. Not reacting with water is only one requirement — a protective coating needs much more.
Justification
An ironsmith heats iron before making tools. Why is heating necessary?
Exploratory Projects — guidance
1. India’s famous metal art styles
| Metal art | State it is famous in | About it |
|---|---|---|
| Dhokra | Chhattisgarh, Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand | Ancient lost-wax casting in brass/bronze — tribal figures and animals |
| Bidriware | Bidar, Karnataka | Silver inlay on a blackened zinc-copper alloy |
| Pembarthi | Pembarthi, Telangana | Fine sheet-metal (brass) work — made possible by malleability |
| Kamrupi | Assam (Kamrup region) | Traditional bell-metal and brass craft |
Make a collage of their photographs and note which property of metals each craft depends on.
2. Metals on the map of India (mark these states)
- Iron ore: Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Goa
- Gold: Karnataka (Kolar, Hutti), Andhra Pradesh
- Aluminium (bauxite): Odisha, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh
- Copper: Rajasthan (Khetri), Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh
3. Metals and non-metals in a smartphone
- Copper — the wiring and circuits (good conductor of electricity).
- Aluminium — light, strong body/frame.
- Gold & silver — thin coatings on connectors; they conduct well and do not corrode.
- Lithium (a metal) — the rechargeable battery.
- Silicon — the chip; carbon in the plastics; oxygen in the glass screen.
4. Debate: should the use of metals for comfort and luxury be increased or decreased?
| Should be increased (for) | Should be decreased (against) |
|---|---|
| Metals are strong, durable and long-lasting; they can be recycled again and again (iron and aluminium are widely recycled in India); they make life safer and more comfortable. | Mining damages forests, soil and water; the ores are limited and will not last forever; extraction uses huge energy and causes pollution; luxury use wastes a resource needed for essential things like tools, bridges and hospitals. |
