Metal Lab Report

Metal or Nonmetal Lab Report

July 5^, 2011

Nia C, Rana K & Eden L

Summer Chemistry

Dr. Forman

Abstract:

Two main groups that split up the periodic table are metals and nonmetals. Metals conduct electricity, are malleable, have luster, and react with many acids. Some metals include copper, iron, tin, and zinc. Nonmetals, on the other hand, are brittle and dull, do not conduct electricity, and do not react as much as metals. These include oxygen and carbon. During this lab we tested 7 different elements to see if they could be classified as a nonmetal or metal. However, some of the elements had properties of both nonmetals and metals. These special substances are called metalloids. To test out the element we first examined the physical appearances, if it appeared shiny we marked it down as a possible metal. Then we hit the elements with a hammer because that is another characteristic that differs between nonmetals and metals. Another test was electrical conductivity with a battery, a small light bulb and two electrodes. Lastly, we tested the elements’ reactivity with hydrochloric acid and copper chloride. Although nonmetals are not completely non-reactant, if there was a noticeable amount of change in the substance we could assume it was a metallic property. We learned that there are many obvious differences between the two types of elements, but sometimes it is hard to tell. For example one element that displayed nonmetal properties seemed a little shiny, so we were unsure if we should mark it as a metalloid or not. However, this is a very useful test for determining which material should be used for a particular job. There are a lot of elements on the table and choosing the right one can be difficult.

Procedures: 

·       We started with E (yellow substance)

o   Hammered the substance

§  Turned out brittle

·      Then we got substance A

o   Grey powder

§  Hammered it

§  No change occurred 

§  Malleable

·       Then received substance B 

o   Shiny

o   Hammered it

§  Malleable

·      Substance C was pretty

o   Hammered it

§  Malleable

·      Substance D

o    Grey

o   Unbreakable

o   brittle

§  Difficult to break

§  Finally we managed to cut away at broken parts

·      Substance F

o   Black

o   When hammered became brittle

·      Substance G

o   Brittle

o   Malleable

·      After we broke all the substances

o   Placed them in different wells

o   Then we started with hydrochloric acid

§  20 HCl drops

o   G began to sizzle and steam after a minute or so

§  Conduct electricity

o   Rachel came around with the electrical conductivity device

§  Tested the conductivity of each substance A- G

§  B should have worked but didn't

•  Ended with copper chloride solution (CuCl2) in each substance

RESULTS:

We tested all of the different samples by looking at their physical appearance, conductivity of electricity, how easily it could be crushed, its reactivity with copper chloride, and reactivity with hydrochloric acid. The result of samples A, C, and E were all nonmetals, while samples B, D, F, and G all were metals or metalloids. Samples C, D, E, and F all were brittle, while sample B was malleable. Sample A had a soft texture, but was not malleable because it had a powdery texture, while sample G was both malleable and brittle because it was able to be bent, but it also shattered when hit. The samples A, B, and G all bubbled, but C, D, E, and F had no reaction when the copper chloride solution was added. When the hydrochloric acid solution was added to samples A, C, F, and G bubbles, while B and E had no reaction.  Sample D had small disintegration of the sample. The nonmetals of the samples were C and E. The metalloids were samples A, D, and F. The metals were B and G.

Questions:

1. -The appearances are a physical property because the were easily observed without touching the substance at all.

    - Conductivity also tested the physical property because the substance was not changed when the electrodes touched it.

    - Crushing was another physical property. Although the substances were somewhat damaged, no change was made their chemical make-up.

    - Adding the hydrochloric acid and the copper chloride tested the chemical properties of the substances because the liquids reacted with the atoms within the element.

2. Non-metal      Metal

        C                      B

        A                      D

        E                      G

        F               

3. Elements A, D, And F could have fit in either category because they appeared to have both nonmetal and metallic properties. For example, A was malleable but did not conduct electricity.

4. A- metalloid

    B- Metal

    C- Non-metal

    D- Metalloid

    E- Non-metal

    F- Metalloid

    G- Metal

 The aggregated data of the lab shows us that the chemical reactions of the different elements were interpreted differently because it was hard to tell if a substance, like a powder, was actually disintegrating or was already like that before. Also, a few elements are close to metalloids on the periodic table, so they may have some characteristics of a met al while being a nonmetal. This shows us that even if a decision is made about an element based on its properties, there is always going to be some disagreement among chemists.