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This statue is made of bronze. Bronze is an alloy. It is composed of copper and tin.

Metals and Non-metals 01

Metals and non-metals behave very differently. KS3 Science explores their properties, reactions, and how they are used in everyday materials and chemical processes.

Explore the Topic →

(quiz starts below)

Fascinating Fact:

Some metals, like sodium and potassium, are so reactive they fizz or even explode in water.

In KS3 Science, pupils compare metals and non-metals by looking at their properties. Metals conduct heat and electricity, while non-metals are often brittle, dull, and poor conductors.

Key Terms

Metal: An element that is usually shiny, malleable, and conducts heat and electricity well.
Non-metal: An element that lacks metallic properties, often brittle and a poor conductor.
Reactivity: How easily an element takes part in chemical reactions, such as with water or oxygen.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What are the main differences between metals and non-metals?

Metals are shiny, strong, and conduct electricity, while non-metals are dull, brittle, and poor conductors of heat and electricity.

Why do some metals react strongly with water?

Metals like sodium and potassium react strongly with water because they lose electrons easily, forming hydrogen gas and hydroxides that release lots of energy.

Which non-metals are important in everyday life?

Non-metals such as oxygen for breathing, carbon in fuels, and nitrogen for fertilisers are essential in daily life and industry.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

The list which best describes the properties of metals is .......

strong, good conductor of heat and electricity, solid

strong, poor conductor of heat and electricity, shiny

weak, ductile, good conductor of heat and electricity

weak, low melting point, poor conductor of heat

Some metals conduct heat and electricity better than others

2 .

The list which contains only metals is .......

aluminium, copper, nitrogen

iron, oxygen, hydrogen

iron, silver, aluminium

iron, sulfur, copper

Nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen and sulfur are all non-metals

3 .

The filament of a light bulb consists of the metal .......

aluminium

iron

silver

tungsten

Tungsten has the highest melting point of all pure metals at 3,422°C

4 .

A metal which is used in jewellery is .......

lead

silver

tin

tungsten

It is less expensive than gold and platinum and will stay shiny for a long time

5 .

Bronze is an alloy. It is composed of .......

copper and tin

copper and zinc

iron and zinc

lead and tin

An alloy is a mixture of metals

6 .

A metal, such as platinum, may be used in jewellery as .......

it is shiny and reactive

it is shiny and unreactive

it is soft and a good conductor of heat

it is soft and cheap

People like jewellery to be shiny and to stay shiny. Unreactive metals like gold and platinum take a long time to tarnish (lose their shine)

7 .

The correct way to write the symbol for the metal chromium is .......

If the symbol contains two letters, the first is a capital so that immediately rules out the second and the fourth options

8 .

The approximate number of elements we know about today is .......

118

1018

It is quite possible scientists will discover even more elements

9 .

The most abundant metal in the Earth's crust is .......

aluminium

copper

gold

iron

There is 8.2% aluminium in Earth's crust found as bauxite, aluminium oxide, never as the element

10 .

Where are the non-metallic elements found in the periodic table?

In the middle

In the top rows

On the left-hand side

On the right-hand side

Some of the elements either side of the dividing line show properties of both metals and non-metals, for example silicon conducts electricity but cannot be bent or hammered into shape - it shatters

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Metals and non-metals

Author: Sue Davison (Chemistry Specialist & KS3 Science Teacher, Quiz Writer)