Metals and non-metals interactive worksheet - Free Printable

Let’s go step by step.

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Question 1: Tick the box to show if the property applies to metals and/or non-metals.

We’ll go through each one:

a) Most are good conductors of electricity.
→ Metals conduct electricity well (like copper wires). Non-metals usually don’t.
✔ Metal only

b) Most are flexible solids.
→ Metals can bend without breaking (malleable/ductile). Non-metals like sulfur or phosphorus are brittle.
✔ Metal only

c) Most are shiny when polished.
→ Metals have a “metallic luster” — think silver, gold, aluminum foil. Non-metals are dull.
✔ Metal only

d) Tend to be brittle solids that break rather than bend.
→ That’s non-metals! Like chalk or glass (though glass isn’t an element, many solid non-metals behave this way).
✔ Non-metal only

e) Mostly poor conductors of heat.
→ Non-metals don’t carry heat well (wood, plastic, rubber). Metals do.
✔ Non-metal only

f) All but one are solids at room temperature.
→ This is true for metals. The exception is mercury (liquid metal). All non-metals? No — oxygen, nitrogen, etc., are gases. So this describes metals.
✔ Metal only

g) Some are gases.
→ Yes! Oxygen, nitrogen, chlorine — all non-metals. No metals are gases at room temp.
✔ Non-metal only

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Question 2: Complete the word that describes the property...

Look at the pictures and clues:

Top left: Aluminum cooking pot → needs to transfer heat well → conductor of heat
Clue starts with “c” and then “of ___” → so:
→ conductor of heat

Top right: Iron bridge → must hold heavy weight without breaking → strong
Clue starts with “s” → strong

Bottom left: Silver mirror → reflects light → shiny
Clue starts with “s” → shiny

Bottom right: Silver bent into jewelry → can be shaped without breaking → flexible (or malleable, but clue says “f”) → flexible

Wait — let’s double-check bottom right: “Silver is bent to make jewellery as it is: f______”

In science, we often say metals are malleable (can be hammered/shaped) or ductile (drawn into wire), but the clue starts with “f”. So likely they want flexible — even though technically “flexible” means bends easily and returns, while “malleable” means can be permanently shaped. But since the clue is “f”, and in school level, “flexible” is acceptable here.

Actually — looking again: maybe it’s formable? Not common. Or perhaps forged? No.

Wait — another possibility: flexible is fine for younger students. Let’s stick with that.

But actually — in many curricula, for jewelry making from silver, they emphasize malleable, but since the clue is “f”, maybe it’s flexible.

Alternatively — could it be fine? No.

Wait — perhaps it’s flexible — yes, that fits.

But let me check standard answers for such worksheets.

Actually — upon second thought: In many UK primary science resources, for bending metal to make shapes, they use flexible even if not perfectly accurate. Since the clue is “f”, we’ll go with flexible.

BUT — wait! Another idea: formable? Not really used.

Perhaps it’s flexible — I think that’s what they expect.

Alternatively — maybe it’s forged? No, that’s a process.

I think safest is flexible.

Wait — let’s look at the pattern:

- conductor of heat → c _ _ _ _ _ _ _ of _ _ _ _ → fits
- strong → s _ _ _ _ → fits
- shiny → s _ _ _ _ → fits
- flexible → f _ _ _ _ _ _ → fits

Yes.

So:

Aluminium: conductor of heat
Iron: strong
Silver (mirror): shiny
Silver (jewelry): flexible

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Final Answer:

Question 1:

a) Metal
b) Metal
c) Metal
d) Non-metal
e) Non-metal
f) Metal
g) Non-metal

Question 2:

Aluminium is used for cooking pots as it is a good:
→ conductor of heat

Iron is used for bridges as it is:
→ strong

Silver is used for mirrors as it is:
→ shiny

Silver is bent to make jewellery as it is:
→ flexible