A.10 Lab Report: Metal or Nonmetal

Danielle, Kelly, & Amy

Abstract:

            In Lab A.10, we tested 7 substances and concluded which ones are metals, nonmetals, or metalloids using our data table. During this lab, we recorded each substance’s appearance and then tested the conductivity, malleability, and reactivity to CuCl₂ and HCl of each of the substances. The importance of this lab was to learn the different properties of metals, nonmetals, and metalloids as well as learn how to distinguish metals from nonmetals, which will benefit our knowledge of substances for the rest of the summer.

Procedure:

            For this lab, we tested whether 7 different substances are metal or nonmetal. To test if they were metal or not, we recorded their appearance and tested their conductivity, reactivity with CuCl₂ and HCl, as well as whether they are malleable or brittle. For appearance, we just described and observed their physical attributes. For conductivity, we placed two wires onto the surface of the substance and saw whether the light bulb lit up or not. To test their malleability, we hit the substances with a hammer and saw if they shattered or flattened which determines whether they’re malleable or brittle. For reactivity, we placed 20 drops of CuCl₂ into each substance’s well and observed the changes, if any, for 5 minutes; we then did this with HCl. We recorded all these steps on our data table, which we can use to determine which substances are metals and which are nonmetals.

Results:

            Based off of our experiments and data table, we concluded that only substances A and F are metals. Substances B, C, and E are nonmetals, while substances D and G are metalloids. We decided which are metals, nonmetals, and metalloids based off of the connections between the info on our data table and the properties of metals, nonmetals, and metalloids described in the textbook.

Element Tested	Appearance	Conductivity	Crushing	Reactivity w/CuCl2	Reactivity w/HCl
A	Luster, silver, tin foil-like	Does conduct	Malleable	Nonreactive	Nonreactive
B	Luster, dark grey, sand-like	Non-conductor	Brittle	Reactive, dulled, CuCl2 turned foggy	Reactive, dulled, HCl
C	Luster, dark blue, rock-like	Non-conductor	Brittle	Nonreactive	Nonreactive
D	Luster, dark grey, rock-like	Does conduct	Brittle	Nonreactive	Nonreactive
E	Dull, yellow, paint chip-llike	Non-conductor	Brittle	Nonreactive	Nonreactive
F	Luster, copper, pearl-like	Does conduct	Malleable	Reactive, dulled	Nonreactive
G	Dull, light greyish blue	Non-conductor	Brittle	Reactive, changed colors dissolved into mold like substance	Reactive, fizzed, HCl turned foggy

                                                                                 (HCl) hydrochloric acid

(Copper Chloride) CuCl2

Before any new substances were added 

Interpreting Evidence:

1.    For all of the substances, observing appearance was a physical property. Both conductivity and crushing were physical properties as well, while reactivity to both CuCl₂ and HCl were chemical properties.

2.    Appearance Changed in HCl or CuCl₂: Substances B, F, G Appearance Not Changed: Substances A, C, D, E

3.    Substance F because it only reacted to CuCl₂

4.    Substances A and F are metals, substances B, C, and E are nonmetals, while substances D and G are metalloids.