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Class 8 Materials: Metals and Non-Metals Short Notes Science Chapter 4

Physical Properties of Metals:

Metals are:

  • hard to touch.
  • lustrous i.e., freshly Cut surfaces of metals have characteristic shining.
  • malleable; the property of metals by which they can be beaten mW thin sheets is called malleability.
  • ductile; the property of metal by which it can be drawn into wires is called ductility.
  • sonorous i.e., metals produce ringing sound when struck on a hard surface.
  • Good conductors of heat and electricity.


Metals like sodium and potassium are soft and can be cut with a knife.

Mercury is the only metal which is found in the liquid state at room temperature.

Chemical Properties of Metals and Non-metals:
Reaction with Oxygen: Both metals and non-metals when burnt in oxygen from their oxides. Oxides of metals are basic in nature while that of non-metals are generally acidic in nature e.g.,

Reaction with Water: Some metals react with water to produce metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas. Generally, non-metals do not react with water.

Reaction with Acids: Metals react with dii. acids and produce metal salt and hydrogen gas. Generally, non-metals do not react with dil. acids.

Reaction with Bases: Metals react with bases to produce hydrogen gas.

Displacement Reaction: More reactive metals displace less reactive metals from their metal compounds in aqueous solutions.

Uses of Metals and Non-metals

  • Metals are used in making machinery automobiles, aeroplanes. trains, satellites, industrial gadgets, cooking utensils, water boilers etc.
  • Non-metals are also used in day-to-day life. Some examples are:
    • oxygen is essential for life.
    • nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are used as fertilizers.
    • chlorine is used as a water purifier.

Atom: Atom is the smallest particle of matter which cannot be divided further by any physical means. Atoms are the basic units from which molecules and ions are formed.

Conductor: Substances which allow heat/electricity to pass through them are called conductors of heat/electricity

Displacement reaction: More reactive metals displace less reactive metals from their compounds in aqueous solutions.

Ductility: The property of metals by which they can be drawn into wires is called ductility

Elements: Substances whose molecules contain only one type of atoms are known as elements.

Hardness: Metals are hard, on the other hand, non-metals are generally brittle.

Malleability: The property of metals by which they can be beaten into thin sheets is called malleability.

Metals:  The materials which are generally hard, lustrous, malleable, ductile, sonorous and good conductors of heat and electricity are called metals

Metalloids: Elements which possess characters of both metals and non-metals are called met.alloids.

Non-metals: Materials which are soft, dull in appearance, brittle, not sonorous and poor conductors of heat and electricity are called non-metals.

Sonorous: Metals are called sonorous because they produce a specific ringing sound.


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For more chapters you can follow the link given below

Science Note for Class 8
Chapter 1 Crop Production and Management Class 8 Notes
Chapter 2 Microorganisms: Friend and Foe Class 8 Notes
Chapter 3 Synthetic Fibres and Plastics Class 8 Notes
Chapter 4 Materials: Metals and Non-Metals Class 8 Notes
Chapter 5 Coal and Petroleum Class 8 Notes
Chapter 6 Combustion and Flame Class 8 Notes
Chapter 7 Conservation of Plants and Animals Class 8 Notes
Chapter 8 Cell Structure and Functions Class 8 Notes
Chapter 9 Reproduction in Animals Class 8 Notes
Chapter 10 Reaching the Age of Adolescence Class 8 Notes
Chapter 11 Force and Pressure Class 8 Notes
Chapter 12 Friction Class 8 Notes
Chapter 13 Sound Class 8 Notes
Chapter 14 Chemical Effects of Electric Current Class 8 Notes
Chapter 15 Some Natural Phenomena Class 8 Notes
Chapter 16 Light Class 8 Notes
Chapter 17 Stars and the Solar System Class 8 Notes
Chapter 18 Pollution of Air and Water Class 8 Notes

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