Test for Metal or Non-Metal

name         Thomas
status       student
grade        6-8
location     N/A

Question -   What tests can you do to find out whether an 
element is a metal or non-metal?
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Metals usually conduct electricity.  You could see if you could run 
a battery thru the metal wire.  Metals also usually conduct heat 
better than non-metals.  If you put a metal spoon in a glass of ice 
water, it will get cold.  A non-metal spoon (say a plastic one) will not.

Steve Ross
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Thomas,

Thanks for your question.

Metals are a group of elements that have similar characteristics such as:

* Luster (metals tend to be shiny compared to non-metals)
* Ductility (metals can be drawn into wires)
* The ability to conduct heat (metals conduct heat better than non-metals)
* The ability to conduct electricity (metals conduct electricity better than
non-metals)
* Malleability (metals can be easily deformed by hammering or rolling)
* The ability to lose electrons and form positive ions

Metals make up about 2/3 of the periodic table of the elements.  All of the
above properties basically occur because metals have the ability to lose
their outer (valence) electrons and create a "sea" of electrons (when many
metal atoms are together).

There is really no single "test" that scientists use to classify an element
as a metal.  It is just a grouping that is used to describe elements that
have the properties listed above.

I hope that helps!

Todd Clark, Office of Science
US Department of Energy
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