Metals and Non-Metals — The Periodic Table | IGCSE Chemistry | Examo

Metals and Non-Metals — The Periodic Table | IGCSE Chemistry | Examo

Exam Frequency Analysis

Past paper frequency (2018 to 2024)

This topic accounts for approximately 8% of your exam marks.

stable

Low

Stable8%

Group trends, periods and atomic radius/ionisation energy are regularly examined.

Comparing the two

Property	Metals	Non-metals
Outer electrons	1 to 3	4 to 7
Bonding	Metallic (lose outer electrons)	Covalent (share outer electrons)
Electrical conductivity	Good conductors	Poor conductors
Type of oxide	Basic oxides	Acidic oxides (a few are neutral)
Reaction with acids	Many react with dilute acids	Usually do not react with acids
Appearance	Shiny (lustrous)	Dull, non-reflective
State at room temperature	Solid (except mercury, which is liquid)	Various: solid, liquid or gas
Mechanical properties	Malleable and ductile (can be bent and stretched)	Brittle (shatter when struck)
Melting and boiling points	High	Low

Position on the periodic table

Metals sit on the left and middle of the periodic table
Non-metals sit on the right
A staircase-shaped zig-zag line on the right of the table separates the two
The majority of known elements are metals

Metalloids

Elements sitting right on the zig-zag border have a mixture of metallic and non-metallic properties
These are called metalloids (also known as semi-metals)
Examples: boron, silicon, germanium, arsenic