Metals:
* Physical Properties:
* Lustrous: Shiny and reflective.
* Malleable: Can be hammered into thin sheets.
* Ductile: Can be drawn into wires.
* Good conductors of heat and electricity: Allows heat and electricity to flow easily.
* High density and melting point: Generally dense and have high melting points.
* Solid at room temperature (except for Mercury): Most metals are solid at room temperature.
* Sonorous: Produce a ringing sound when struck.
* Chemical Properties:
* Tend to lose electrons: Easily form positive ions (cations).
* React with acids to form salts and hydrogen gas: Metals react with acids to form salts and release hydrogen gas.
* React with oxygen to form oxides: Metals react with oxygen to form metal oxides.
* Form alloys with other metals: Metals can be mixed with other metals to form alloys with unique properties.
Non-metals:
* Physical Properties:
* Not lustrous: Dull and non-reflective.
* Brittle: Break easily and cannot be hammered into sheets.
* Poor conductors of heat and electricity: Resist the flow of heat and electricity.
* Low density and melting point: Generally less dense and have lower melting points.
* Can be solid, liquid, or gas at room temperature: Non-metals exist in all three states of matter at room temperature.
* Not sonorous: Do not produce a ringing sound when struck.
* Chemical Properties:
* Tend to gain electrons: Easily form negative ions (anions).
* React with metals to form salts: Non-metals react with metals to form ionic compounds called salts.
* React with other non-metals to form covalent compounds: Non-metals can bond with each other to form covalent compounds.
* Not easily oxidized: Resistant to corrosion or rusting.
Note: There are some exceptions to these properties, especially in the case of metalloids, which exhibit characteristics of both metals and non-metals.
This table summarizes the key differences:
| Property | Metal | Non-metal |
|----------------|-----------------|-------------------|
| Lustrous | Yes | No |
| Malleable | Yes | No |
| Ductile | Yes | No |
| Conductivity | Good | Poor |
| Density | High | Low |
| Melting Point | High | Low |
| State at Room Temp | Solid (except for Mercury) | Solid, Liquid, or Gas |
| Sonorous | Yes | No |
| Reactivity | Lose electrons | Gain electrons |
| Oxidation | Easy | Difficult |
| Bonding | Metallic | Covalent or Ionic |
