Name:_________________

Properties of Elements Lab

Purpose: To distinguish among some elements in terms of their physical and chemical
properties.

Procedure:
For each element
1. Determine its phase (solid, liquid, or gas).
2. Determine its colour.
3. Determine whether it is lustrous. This may require some polishing with steel wool.
4. Determine whether it is ductile or not.
5. Test its conductivity using the conductivity tester. Do so on a section that you have polished,
if applicable.
6. Determine whether it is magnetic or nonmagnetic.
7. Determine from its position on the periodic table whether it is a metal or nonmetal.
8. Record your observations in the space provided.

Observations:

1. Copper 2. Sulphur
Phase Phase
Colour Colour
yes no yes no
Lustrous Lustrous
Ductile Ductile
Conducts Conducts
magnetic Magnetic
Metal/nonmet Metal/nonmet
al al
Uses Uses

3. Carbon 4. Iron
Phase Phase
Colour Colour
yes no yes no
Lustrous Lustrous
Ductile Ductile
Conducts Conducts
magnetic Magnetic
Metal/nonmet Metal/nonmet
al al
Uses Uses
 Name:_________________

5. Iodine 6. Zinc
Phase Phase
Colour Colour
yes no yes no
Lustrous Lustrous
Ductile Ductile
Conducts Conducts
magnetic Magnetic
Metal/nonmet Metal/nonmet
al al
Uses Uses

7. Aluminum
Phase
Colour
yes no
Lustrous
Ductile
Conducts
magnetic
Metal/nonmet
al
Uses

1. The magnetic elements in the lab are:

2. Which two elements (in the lab) were the densest?

a)____________________ b)____________________

3. Which two elements (in the lab) were the least dense?

a)____________________ b)____________________

4. The non-metals in the lab were:

 Name:_________________

5. Define the following:

a) oxide

b) corrosion

c) alloy

6. Summarize the properties of metals and nonmetals below:

Metals Nonmetals