🔩 Metals and Non-Metals – Full Breakdown

AMU Class 11 Science Chemistry June 2026

        Metals vs non-metals is a classic comparison chapter. AMU asks about physical properties (conductivity, malleability, ductility), chemical properties (reaction with water/acid), the reactivity series, and extraction of metals. The "which metal reacts with cold water/hot water/steam" and "which metal is liquid at room temperature" are guaranteed AMU questions.
    

1) Physical Properties — Metal vs Non-Metal

Property	Metal	Non-Metal
State at RT	Solid (except Hg — liquid)	Solid / Gas (except Br₂ — liquid)
Lustre	Metallic lustre (shiny)	Dull (except diamond, iodine)
Conductivity	Good conductor (heat + electricity)	Poor (except graphite)
Malleability	Can be beaten into sheets	Brittle (cannot be hammered)
Ductility	Can be drawn into wires	Non-ductile
Sonorous	Yes (produces ringing sound)	No
Density	High (except Na, K — float on water)	Low
Melting point	High (except K, Na, Hg — low)	Low (except diamond, graphite — high)

⚠️ AMU Favourites:
• "Which metal is liquid at room temperature?" → Mercury (Hg)
• "Which non-metal is liquid at room temperature?" → Bromine (Br₂)
• "Which metal is soft and can be cut with a knife?" → Sodium (Na), Potassium (K)
• "Which non-metal is a good conductor of electricity?" → Graphite (C)
• "Which metal has the highest melting point?" → Tungsten (W) — used in bulb filaments

2) Chemical Properties — Reactions of Metals

Reaction with Oxygen (Form Metal Oxides)

Metal + O₂ → Metal Oxide

4Na + O₂ → 2Na₂O (sodium oxide — basic oxide)
2Mg + O₂ → 2MgO (magnesium oxide — white ash, basic)
4Al + 3O₂ → 2Al₂O₃ (aluminium oxide — amphoteric)
3Fe + 2O₂ → Fe₃O₄ (magnetite — basic)

⚠️ Amphoteric oxides: React with both acids AND bases. E.g., Al₂O₃, ZnO. AMU: "Which oxide reacts with both HCl and NaOH?" → Al₂O₃ or ZnO.

Reaction with Water — VERY Important for AMU

Metal	Reaction with Water
Na, K	React violently with cold water → H₂ + heat (catches fire)
Ca	Reacts less violently with cold water → H₂ (doesn't catch fire)
Mg	Reacts with hot water → H₂ (but not cold)
Al, Zn	Reacts with steam → H₂ (not with cold/hot water)
Fe	Reacts with steam → Fe₃O₄ + H₂ (red hot condition)
Cu, Ag, Au	Do not react with water at all

🧠 Trick — "Reactivity with Water" ladder:
Cold water: Na > K > Ca (vigorous to moderate)
Hot water: Mg
Steam: Al, Zn, Fe
No reaction: Cu, Ag, Au

Think of it as temperature needed ↑ as reactivity ↓.

Reaction with Acids

Metal + Acid → Salt + H₂↑

Zn + 2HCl → ZnCl₂ + H₂
Fe + H₂SO₄ → FeSO₄ + H₂
2Na + 2HCl → 2NaCl + H₂ (explosive!)

⚠️ AMU: "Which gas is produced when a metal reacts with an acid?" → Hydrogen (H₂). "How do you test for H₂ gas?" → Burning splinter — pops with a 'pop' sound.

3) Reactivity Series of Metals

Most Reactive
K (Potassium)
Na (Sodium)
Ca (Calcium)
Mg (Magnesium)
Al (Aluminium)
Zn (Zinc)
Fe (Iron)
Sn (Tin)
Pb (Lead)
H (Hydrogen — reference point)
Cu (Copper)
Ag (Silver)
Au (Gold)
Least Reactive

Key facts from reactivity series:

Metals above H can displace H from acids.
Metals above can displace metals below from their compounds (displacement reaction).
K, Na, Ca, Mg, Al — obtained by electrolytic reduction.
Zn, Fe, Sn, Pb — obtained by reduction with carbon.
Cu, Ag, Au — occur in native state (found as pure metals).

🧠 Mnemonic — "King Na Ca Mg Al Zn Fe Sn Pb H Cu Ag Au":
King National Can Mgake All Znoos Feature Snakes Pbehave Here Cutely Agree Aunts.
Stupid but it works!

4) Extraction of Metals (Metallurgy)

Steps: Mining → Concentration → Extraction → Purification

Concentration Methods

Hydraulic washing: Density difference (gold, tin)
Froth flotation: For sulphide ores (ZnS, PbS)
Magnetic separation: Magnetic ore + non-magnetic gangue

Extraction Methods Based on Reactivity

Metal	Method
K, Na, Ca, Mg, Al	Electrolytic reduction (electrolysis of molten ore)
Zn, Fe, Sn, Pb	Reduction with carbon (smelting in a furnace)
Cu, Ag, Au	Native state (found pure, just need purification)

Roasting: Sulphide ore + O₂ → Metal oxide + SO₂ (heating in excess air)
Calcination: Carbonate ore → Metal oxide + CO₂ (heating in limited air)

Example — Iron extraction (Blast furnace):
Fe₂O₃ + 3CO → 2Fe + 3CO₂
Fe₂O₃ + C → 2FeO + CO etc.

5) Alloys

Homogeneous mixture of a metal with one or more metals/non-metals.

Alloy	Composition	Uses
Brass	Cu + Zn	Decorations, musical instruments
Bronze	Cu + Sn	Statues, coins
Steel	Fe + C (0.05-2%)	Construction, tools
Stainless Steel	Fe + Cr + Ni + C	Utensils, surgical instruments
Solder	Sn + Pb	Soldering electrical joints
Amalgam	Metal + Hg	Dental fillings

6) Common AMU-Style MCQs

Q1:

Which of the following can be cut with a knife?

(a) Iron (b) Sodium (c) Copper (d) Zinc

Answer: (b) Sodium

Q2:

Which metal reacts violently with cold water?

(a) Iron (b) Copper (c) Sodium (d) Zinc

Answer: (c) Sodium

Q3:

The non-metal which is a good conductor of electricity is:

(a) Diamond (b) Iodine (c) Graphite (d) Sulphur

Answer: (c) Graphite

Q4:

Which of the following is an amphoteric oxide?

(a) Na₂O (b) MgO (c) Al₂O₃ (d) CuO

Answer: (c) Al₂O₃

Q5:

Brass is an alloy of:

(a) Cu + Sn (b) Cu + Zn (c) Fe + C (d) Sn + Pb

Answer: (b) Cu + Zn (Bronze = Cu + Sn, Steel = Fe + C)

7) Quick Revision

Metals: solid (except Hg), lustrous, malleable, ductile, sonorous, conductive.
Non-metals: dull, brittle, non-conductive (except graphite).
Reactivity series: K Na Ca Mg Al Zn Fe Sn Pb H Cu Ag Au.
Reaction with water: Na/K (cold) → Mg (hot) → Al/Zn/Fe (steam) → Cu/Ag/Au (none).
Amphoteric oxides: Al₂O₃, ZnO — react with both acids and bases.
Na and K stored in kerosene (react with air/moisture).
Anodising: thickening of Al₂O₃ layer on Al to prevent corrosion.
Galvanisation: coating Fe with Zn to prevent rusting.
Alloys are stronger, harder, corrosion-resistant than pure metals.

🧠 Final tip: The reactivity series with water reactions is the MOST important part for AMU. Practice matching metals to their reaction type. Also remember the two exceptions: Hg (liquid metal) and Br₂ (liquid non-metal).