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A property of a substance that can be observed without changing the substance's composition is called physical property.
The following are the physical properties of non-metal:
- Physical state
- Lustre
- Hardness
- Density
- Melting and boiling point
- Malleability
- Ductility
- Conductivity
- Sonorous
Let us look at them in detail.
Physical state
The non-metals naturally exist in three states: solid, liquid and gas.
- Sulphur and phosphorus occur in solid-state.
- Bromine occurs in a liquid state.
- Gases like oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, etc., occur in the gaseous state.
Lustre
Non-metals lack lustre because they have a dull appearance. Substances like graphite, diamond (these are allotropes of carbon) and iodine are exceptions.
Hardness
Non-metals are soft. The hardest natural substance known is diamond, which is a carbon allotrope.
Density
The density of a substance is defined as its mass per unit volume.
Non-metals have low density except for diamond.
Melting and boiling point
The melting point of a substance is the temperature at which it changes from a solid to a liquid.
The boiling point is the temperature at which a liquid transforms into a gas or vapour at normal atmospheric pressure.
Melting and boiling points of non-metals are low. On the other hand, diamond, which is a carbon allotrope, has a very high melting and boiling point.
Malleability
Malleability is the material's ability to be hammered or forced permanently out of shape without breaking or cracking, known as malleability.
Non-metals are non-malleable.
When non-metals are hammered, they will form a powdery mass as they are in a solid-state and are brittle in nature.
Ductility
The property of materials that allows them to be pulled into thin wires is called ductility.
Non-metals are non-ductile except for carbon fibre, which is highly ductile.
Conductivity
The ability of a material to conduct heat or electricity.
Non-metals are poor conductors of heat and electricity. However, graphite is an example of non-metals, which conducts electricity.
Sonorous
Non-metals are non-sonorous as they do not make a sound when they are hit upon.
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