Unit 5: Metals, non-metals, acids and alkalis

Comparing metals and non-metals — HIA International - Grade 6 Revision Notes & Topical Questions

5 min read 6 parts Lesson 3 of 8 3 quizzes

📚 HIA International - Grade 6 Hub / Topical Revision

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Lesson summary

5.2 Comparing metals and non-metals — HIA INTERNATIONAL notes: Compare the properties of metals and non-metals and use tests to decide which a material is.PropertyMetalsNon-metalsState at room temperaturemost are solidmany are gasesAppearanceshinydullWhen hit or droppeddo not sha…

Dull, brittle, non-conducting material
Metals do better
Questions to ask
Electrical test
Conclusion
Comparison words

Part 1 of 4Metals compared with non-metals

Property	Metals	Non-metals
State at room temperature	most are solid	many are gases
Appearance	shiny	dull
When hit or dropped	do not shatter	brittle
Heat conduction	conduct heat energy well	do not conduct heat energy well
Electrical conduction	conduct electricity	most do not conduct electricity
Shaping	malleable and ductile	not malleable or ductile
Sound	sonorous	not sonorous

Part 2 of 4Unusual cases

Unusual cases

Mercury

Mercury a metal that is liquid at room temperature

Dull, brittle, non-conducting material

Dull, brittle, non-conducting material a non-metal

Metals do better

Metals do better metals conduct electricity and heat well and can be bent or drawn into wires, which non-metals cannot

Part 3 of 4Investigating materials to identify metals

Questions to ask

Questions to ask is it shiny or dull, does it make a ringing sound when hit, is it brittle, can it be bent, does it feel hot or cold, does it conduct electricity

Electrical test

Electrical test connect the material between crocodile clips in a circuit with a cell and a lamp
Check the lamp works first by joining the clips together with no test material.
Make good contact between the clips and the material.

Conclusion

Conclusion a lamp that lights shows the material conducts electricity and is probably a metal

Part 4 of 4Comparing in writing

Comparison words

Comparison words whereas, lighter than, higher melting point than, compared with

Example

Example metals have shiny surfaces whereas non-metals have dull surfaces

Key terms

Term	Meaning
Malleable	Can be hammered into shape.
Ductile	Can be drawn out into wires.
Sonorous	Makes a ringing sound when hit.
Brittle	Likely to shatter when dropped.
Insulator	A material that does not conduct heat or electricity.
Conduct	Let heat or electricity pass through.

Avoid these mistakes

Saying all metals are magnetic — only iron, steel, nickel and cobalt are magnetic

Saying every metal is solid at room temperature — mercury is a liquid

Saying all non-metals are poor conductors — most are, and they are called insulators when they do not conduct heat or electricity

Saying sonorous means shiny — sonorous means makes a ringing sound when hit

Last updated: 23 October 2026