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Properties and Uses of Metals Elements

Metals and

their Symbols

Appearance Properties Uses

Copper

(Cu)

Reddish brown

solid

- Good conductor of

electricity- Ductile

- Corrosion resistant

- Strong

- Copper wires

-Pipes

Zinc

(Zn)

Grey solid - Good conductor of

electricity

- Corrosion resistant

- Strong

- Zinc is used inside

batteries to produce

electricity

- Zinc plating for coins

Aluminum(Al)

Silvery shinysolid

- Low density

-Corrosion resistant

- Strong and light

- Malleable

- Cooking foils

-Drink cans

Mercury

(Hg)

Silvery liquid - Does not react easily with

other chemicals

- Mercury vapour is

fluorescent (gives out light)

- Good conductor of heat

- Expands evenly on heating

- Used in thermometers

- Used to measure bloodpressure

Magnesium

(Mg)

Grey solid - Burns with a dazzling white

light

- Forms alkali to neutralize

excess acid in stomach

- Used to make milk of

magnesia which is

used to relieve acid

indigestion

Iron

(Fe)

Grey solid - Good conductor of heat and

electricity

- Ductile

- Strong

- Magnetic

- Used to make cutlery.

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Properties and Uses of Non-Metals Elements

Non-Metals

and their

symbols

Appearance Properties Uses

Iodine(I)

Black Crystals-

Poisonous- Antiseptic

- (prevents wound

infection)

-Used as antisepticin medicine

Chlorine

(Cl)

Greenish yellow

gas

- Poisonous

- Bleaches dyes

- Used for bleaches

for clothes

Sulphur

(S)

Yellow powdery

solid

- Poisonous

- Soluble in organic

solvent

- (e.g. alcohol) but not

in water

- Used to make

rubber tyres harder

through a process

called

vulcanization

Diamond

(Carbon, C)

Hardest substance

known to man

- Can be polished to

form a shiny,

reflecting, transparent

solid

- Used as diamond

drills to cut through

very hard metal

Graphite

(Carbon, C)

Black solid - Smooth

- Lightweight

- Good conductor of

electricity

- Used to make

rackets

Hydrogen

(H)

Colourless gas - Gas with the lowest

density

- Explosive

- Used to fill weather

balloons and

blimps

Nitrogen (N) Colourless gas - Non-reactive, doesnot burn or support

combustion

- Low boiling point

- Used to makefertiliser for farm

Oxygen

(O)

Colourless gas - Essential for life

- Does not burn but

support combustion

- Used in the flames

for welding

Neon(Ne)

Colourless andodorless

- Exist as a single atom- Noble gas

Used in making neonadvertising signs

Helium(He)

Colourless andodorless

- Exist as a single atom- Noble gas

- airships and balloonscan be filled with the

gas to gain lift.

- Helium is used to

condense hydrogen

and oxygen to make

rocket fuel.

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