Read and download the Chapter 6 Metals and Nonmetals PDF from the official ICSE Book for Class 8 Chemistry. Updated for the 2026-27 academic session, you can access the complete Chemistry textbook in PDF format for free.
ICSE Class 8 Chemistry Chapter 6 Metals and Nonmetals Digital Edition
For Class 8 Chemistry, this chapter in ICSE Class 8 Chemistry Chapter 06 Metals and Nonmetals provides a detailed overview of important concepts. We highly recommend using this text alongside the ICSE Solutions for Class 8 Chemistry to learn the exercise questions provided at the end of the chapter.
Chapter 6 Metals and Nonmetals ICSE Book Class Class 8 PDF (2026-27)
Metals And Nonmetals
As you know, elements can be broadly classified into metals and nonmetals.
Metals
Metals are lustrous, crystalline solids of high tensile strength, malleable and ductile, and good conductors of heat and electricity.
Examples: K, Ca, Na, Mg, Al, Zn, Fe, Sn, Pb, Cu, Ag, Au
Nonmetals
Nonmetals are nonlustrous (i.e., dull looking), brittle, if solid, nonmalleable and nonductile, and bad conductors of heat and electricity.
Examples: H, C, N, O, P, S, Cl
Of the 114 elements known today, 90 are metals and the remaining 24 are nonmetals.
Physical Properties Of Metals And Nonmetals
Metals differ widely from nonmetals in their physical properties. This is evident from the following comparison.
| Property | Metals | Nonmetals |
|---|---|---|
| 1. State | Except mercury, metals are solids under ordinary conditions. | Under ordinary conditions, some nonmetals are solids, one is a liquid and some are gases. Of the 24 nonmetals, 12 (e.g., carbon, sulphur, phosphorus) are solids, 1 (bromine) is a liquid, and 11 (e.g., nitrogen, oxygen, chlorine) are gases. |
| 2. Lustre | Metals have a lustre, called metallic lustre. They can be polished. For example, iron, aluminium, zinc, tin, copper, silver and gold are all lustrous, and can be polished. | Nonmetals are usually lustreless (dull-looking). They cannot be polished. Exceptions - Graphite (carbon) and iodine are lustrous. |
| 3. Density | Metals generally have a high density. Metal | Density (g/cm³) Zinc | 7.1 Tin | 7.28 Iron | 7.9 Copper | 8.9 Silver | 10.5 Lead | 11.3 Mercury | 13.6 Gold | 19.3 Platinum | 21.45 Exceptions - Potassium, sodium, magnesium and aluminium have comparatively low densities, and are light. | Nonmetals usually have a low density. Nonmetal | Density (g/cm³) Phosphorus (white) | 1.82 Sulphur | 2.07 Graphite (carbon) | 2.25 Diamond (carbon) | 3.51 Exception - Bromine has a high density (8.13 g/cm³). |
Teacher's Note
You can observe metals and nonmetals all around you - metals in jewelry, cutlery, and building materials, while nonmetals like sulfur and carbon are found in matches and batteries.
| Property | Metals | Nonmetals |
|---|---|---|
| Metal | Density (g/cm³) Potassium | 0.86 Sodium | 0.97 Magnesium | 1.74 Aluminium | 2.7 | ||
| 4. Tensile strength | In general, metals are hard solids with high tensile strength, i.e., they can withstand high pressure without breaking. A metal wire or rope can take big loads, and thus can be used in ropeways. It is the tensile strength of iron that makes a bridge or a skyscraper able to withstand high pressures. Exceptions - Sodium and potassium are soft metals that can be cut with a knife. | In general, solid nonmetals are soft, and have low tensile strength. They are brittle. For example, sulphur and phosphorus are brittle. Exception - Diamond is very hard-the hardest solid known. |
| 5. Malleability | Metals are malleable, i.e., they can be hammered or pressed into sheets or foils. Iron, aluminium, tin, copper, silver, gold, etc., are all malleable. Aluminium is pressed into foils that are used for covering or wrapping food. A blacksmith hammers red-hot steel to make tools, and a piece of copper or brass to make utensils. | Nonmetals are not malleable. |
| 6. Ductility | Metals are ductile, i.e., they can be bent and drawn into wires. | Nonmetals are not ductile. |
| 7. Sonority | Metals are sonorous, i.e., they produce a characteristic sound, called a metallic sound or metallic clink, when hit by a hard object. | Nonmetals are not sonorous. They do not produce a characteristic sound when hit by a hard object. |
| 8. Melting point (m.p.) and boiling point (b.p.) | Metals generally melt and boil at high temperatures. Metal | m.p. (°C) | b.p. (°C) Zinc | 419 | 920 Aluminium | 660 | 2467 Iron | 1539 | 2800 Copper | 1083 | 2450 Potassium, sodium, tin and lead have comparatively low melting points, but quite high boiling points. Metal | m.p. (°C) | b.p. (°C) Potassium | 63 | 766 Sodium | 98 | 881 Tin | 232 | 2260 Lead | 327 | 1620 Exception - The liquid metal, mercury, freezes at -39°C and boils at 357°C. | Nonmetals generally melt and boil at low temperatures. Nonmetal | m.p. (°C) | b.p. (°C) Phosphorus | 44 | 281 Sulphur | 114 | 445 Iodine | 114 | 185 The boiling as well as the melting points of nonmetals are much lower than ordinary temperature. Bromine, the only liquid nonmetal, boils at 60°C. Nonmetal | m.p. (°C) | b.p. (°C) Bromine | - | 60 Hydrogen | -259 | -253 Oxygen | -229 | -183 Nitrogen | -210 | -196 Chlorine | -101 | - 34 Exception - Carbon melts at a very high temperature (-4000°C). |
| 9. Conduction of heat | Metals are good conductors of heat. | Nonmetals are bad conductors of heat. |
| 10. Conduction of electricity | Metals are good conductors of electricity. They are, therefore, used for transmitting electricity and making electrical equipment. | Nonmetals are bad conductors of electricity. Exception - Graphite is a good conductor of electricity. So it is used as electrodes in cells. |
Teacher's Note
Notice how copper wires conduct electricity to power your home, while rubber (a nonmetal) safely insulates those wires from you.
Metals are lustrous and can be pressed into sheets or foils and drawn into wires.
Metals have high tensile strength. Steel cables carry heavy loads such as that of cable cars.
Metals are sonorous.
Activity - Electrical Conductivity Test
Using an electrical circuit of the type shown in Figure 6.4, you can easily test whether or not something conducts electricity. The test material conducts electricity if the bulb glows when the test material is in circuit.
You will find that a metal key conducts electricity (the bulb glows), but a block of sulphur does not.
Test something else now. Sharpen a small pencil at both ends, and connect the two naked ends of the 'lead' to the circuit. The bulb will glow, showing that graphite conducts electricity.
Bulb - Battery - Test material
A metal key conducts electricity but a block of sulphur does not.
Teacher's Note
This simple circuit experiment demonstrates why metals are essential for electrical applications while most nonmetals cannot be used in electrical wiring.
Graphite conducts electricity.
Chemical Properties Of Metals And Nonmetals
In chemical properties too, metals differ from nonmetals to a great extent.
The activity series helps in grading the chemical reactivities of metals (along with hydrogen). We find that the higher the position of the metal in the series, the greater is its reactivity. Sodium and potassium occupy high positions in the series, and are very active. Silver, gold and platinum are placed very low in the series, and are unreactive. They are called noble metals.
Metals which occupy a very low position in the activity series either react to a very small extent (e.g., silver) with air or oxygen or do not react at all (e.g., gold and platinum).
Action Of Air Or Oxygen
Action On Metals
Metals generally react with oxygen to form oxides. The vigour with which a metal reacts with oxygen decreases as we go down the activity series. Potassium and sodium react with air or oxygen even at ordinary temperatures. That is why they are preserved in kerosene. Magnesium burns in air with a dazzling white light only when ignited. Zinc, iron and copper react with air only when strongly heated.
4Na + O2 - ordinary temperature -> 2Na2O
2Mg + O2 - ignition -> 2MgO
2Zn + O2 - strong heating -> 2ZnO
3Fe + 2O2 - strong heating -> Fe3O4
2Cu + O2 - strong heating -> 2CuO
Metals which occupy a very low position in the activity series either react to a very small extent (e.g., silver) with air or oxygen or do not react at all (e.g., gold and platinum).
Corrosion
The freshly cut surfaces of metals shine. But, on being exposed to air, these surfaces usually get tarnished (discoloured). This happens because a thin film of the metal oxide is generally formed over them. Sometimes, the hydrogen sulphide gas present in polluted air causes the formation of the metal sulphide to. For example, silver gets tarnished in polluted air by the formation of silver sulphide (Ag2S, which is black). In many cases (e.g., silver and gold), tarnishing protects the rest of the metallic mass from the chemical action of air.
In the other cases, when the chemical action of air is prolonged beyond tarnishing, the compounds formed slowly eat away the metal. We then say that the metal is corroded.
The slow destruction of a metal or alloy by chemical action is called corrosion.
The rusting (of iron) is a common example of corrosion. Other metals, like magnesium, aluminium, zinc, tin and copper, also corrode. However, the action of air on a highly active metal, like potassium or sodium, is not called corrosion.
Teacher's Note
Rust on old iron gates and bicycles shows how corrosion gradually destroys metals - this is why we paint or coat metals to protect them.
This is a preview of the first 3 pages. To get the complete book, click below.
Free study material for Chemistry
ICSE Book Class 8 Chemistry Chapter 6 Metals and Nonmetals
Download the official ICSE Textbook for Class 8 Chemistry Chapter 6 Metals and Nonmetals, updated for the latest academic session. These e-books are the main textbook used by major education boards across India. All teachers and subject experts recommend the Chapter 6 Metals and Nonmetals NCERT e-textbook because exam papers for Class 8 are strictly based on the syllabus specified in these books. You can download the complete chapter in PDF format from here.
Download Chemistry Class 8 NCERT eBooks in English
We have provided the complete collection of ICSE books in English Medium for all subjects in Class 8. These digital textbooks are very important for students who have English as their medium of studying. Each chapter, including Chapter 6 Metals and Nonmetals, contains detailed explanations and a detailed list of questions at the end of the chapter. Simply click the links above to get your free Chemistry textbook PDF and start studying today.
Benefits of using ICSE Class 8 Textbooks
The Class 8 Chemistry Chapter 6 Metals and Nonmetals book is designed to provide a strong conceptual understanding. Students should also access NCERT Solutions and revision notes on studiestoday.com to enhance their learning experience.
FAQs
You can download the latest, teacher-verified PDF for ICSE Class 8 Chemistry Chapter 06 Metals and Nonmetals for free on StudiesToday.com. These digital editions are updated as per 2026-27 session and are optimized for mobile reading.
Yes, our collection of Class 8 Chemistry NCERT books follow the 2026 rationalization guidelines. All deleted chapters have been removed and has latest content for you to study.
Downloading chapter-wise PDFs for Class 8 Chemistry allows for faster access, saves storage space, and makes it easier to focus in 2026 on specific topics during revision.
NCERT books are the main source for ICSE exams. By reading ICSE Class 8 Chemistry Chapter 06 Metals and Nonmetals line-by-line and practicing its questions, students build strong understanding to get full marks in Chemistry.