• NEET
      • Class 11th
      • Class 12th
      • Class 12th Plus
    • JEE
      • Class 11th
      • Class 12th
      • Class 12th Plus
    • Class 6-10
      • Class 6th
      • Class 7th
      • Class 8th
      • Class 9th
      • Class 10th
    • View All Options
      • Online Courses
      • Offline Courses
      • Distance Learning
      • Hindi Medium Courses
      • International Olympiad
    • NEET
      • Class 11th
      • Class 12th
      • Class 12th Plus
    • JEE (Main+Advanced)
      • Class 11th
      • Class 12th
      • Class 12th Plus
    • JEE Main
      • Class 11th
      • Class 12th
      • Class 12th Plus
  • NEW
    • JEE MAIN 2025
    • NEET
      • 2024
      • 2023
      • 2022
    • Class 6-10
    • JEE Main
      • Previous Year Papers
      • Sample Papers
      • Result
      • Analysis
      • Syllabus
      • Exam Date
    • JEE Advanced
      • Previous Year Papers
      • Sample Papers
      • Mock Test
      • Result
      • Analysis
      • Syllabus
      • Exam Date
    • NEET
      • Previous Year Papers
      • Sample Papers
      • Mock Test
      • Result
      • Analysis
      • Syllabus
      • Exam Date
    • NCERT Solutions
      • Class 6
      • Class 7
      • Class 8
      • Class 9
      • Class 10
      • Class 11
      • Class 12
    • CBSE
      • Notes
      • Sample Papers
      • Question Papers
    • Olympiad
      • NSO
      • IMO
      • NMTC
    • TALLENTEX
    • AOSAT
    • ALLEN e-Store
    • ALLEN for Schools
    • About ALLEN
    • Blogs
    • News
    • Careers
    • Request a call back
    • Book home demo
NCERT SolutionsCBSE NotesCBSE Exam
Home
Science
Chemical Compounds Class 6

Chemical Compounds Class 6

The basic aim of science is not only to study and understand natural phenomena but also to use this knowledge to make our lives more comfortable. Science and technology have enabled us to develop more economical and convenient methods to recover useful materials from nature and to put them in various uses. Chemistry has enabled us to synthesize new materials which have desired properties. Thus, making them even better than natural materials.

We need different types of materials to meet our daily needs. Some of them are obtained from nature while others are prepared by man. The materials that we get from nature are called natural materials. Wood, silk, cotton, leather, rubber, coal, etc. are natural materials. However, some materials that we use are manmade.

Synthetic textiles like terylene and nylon, cement, glass, plastics, dyes, soap, detergents, fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides are some man-made materials which are commonly used.

1.0Useful Elements

Useful Elements

Aluminium foil is used for packing of food items.

Of the 92 naturally occurring elements, about 70 are metals and the rest are non-metals. In this chapter, we shall examine the uses of metals and non-metals both in their pure form and in combination with other elements.

Metals and non-metals : Metals and non-metals have been in the service of man for thousands of years now. The usefulness of metals and non - metals depends on their general properties.

Note : Aluminium is widely used for about not more than 150 years while Iron has been used for over 3500 years.

2.0Comparative Study of The Properties

A comparative study of the general properties of metals and non - metals is given in the table.

 

Properties

Metals

Non - metals

1

Physical state

Metals are generally
solids at room temperature. (Exception; Mercury is the only metal occurring in the liquid state at room temperature).

Non-metals are generally solids or gases at room temperature. (Exception: Bromine is the only non - metal known to exist as a liquid at room temperature). 

2

Lustrous

Metals possess a shiny
lustre.

They have a dull appearance.
(Exceptions: Graphite and iodine
show some lustre).

3

Density

Metals have high density (Exception :  sodium and potassium have low densities).

Non-metals generally have low density (Diamond has high density).

4

Hardness

Most metals are hard and strong. However, some like sodium and potassium are so soft that they can be cut with a knife.

They are soft, except for diamonds.

5

Melting point and Boiling point

Metals have both high melting point and boiling point.

Non-metals have both low melting and low boiling points. (Exception : graphite, a form of carbon, and silicon, both have high melting points. Graphite and boron have high boiling points).

6

Malleability

Metals are malleable. Malleability is the property by virtue of which metals can be beaten into thin sheets.

They are brittle. They break when struck with a  hard substance. 

7

Ductility

Metals are ductile. Ductility is the property by virtue of which metals can be drawn into fine wires without breaking.

Non-metals are non-ductile.

8

Tensile strength

Metals have high tensile strength i.e., they can bear a lot of strain (Exception : zinc.)

Non-metals have low tensile
strength (Exception : carbon fibre).

9

Conductivity

Metals are good conductors
of heat and electricity. Silver is the good conductor of electricity followed by copper.

They are poor conductors of heat and electricity. (Exceptions: Diamond is a good conductor of heat and graphite is a good conductor of electricity).

10

Sonorous

Metals are sonorous.

Non-metals are not sonorous.

11

Alloy formation

Metals combine with other
metals to form homogenous solid mixtures, called alloys.

Non-metals generally do not
form alloys (Exception : carbon forms an alloy with iron, i.e. steel)

12

Atomicity

They are monoatomic
elements, i.e., their molecules contain just one atom.

Mostly they have more than
one atom in their molecules. Gaseous non-metals mostly have diatomic molecules. (Exception : inert gases He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, Rn).

13

Solubility

Metals are generally insoluble
in water and other organic solvents.

These are both soluble and
insoluble.

3.0Also Read

Shells

Mass Spectrometry

Alloys and Its Advantages

Materials

Reverse Osmosis

Man-made Materials

Fire Extinguisher

Uses of Metals and Non-Metals

General Chemistry

Table of Contents


  • 1.0Useful Elements
  • 2.0Comparative Study of The Properties
  • 3.0Also Read

Fequently Asked Questions

Natural materials are obtained from nature, such as wood, silk, and cotton. Man-made materials are created by humans through chemical processes, like plastics, nylon, and synthetic fibers.

Metals are generally lustrous, malleable, ductile, good conductors of heat and electricity, and have high melting points. Non-metals, on the other hand, are typically dull, brittle, poor conductors, and have lower melting points.

Aluminum is lightweight, durable, and resistant to corrosion. These properties make it ideal for various applications, including food packaging, construction, and transportation.

An alloy is a mixture of two or more metals (or a metal and a non-metal). Alloys often exhibit enhanced properties, such as increased strength, hardness, and resistance to corrosion, compared to the pure metals they are made from.

Common non-metals include oxygen (essential for respiration), carbon (found in graphite and diamonds), and nitrogen (used in fertilizers).

Join ALLEN!

(Session 2025 - 26)


Choose class
Choose your goal
Preferred Mode
Choose State
  • About
    • About us
    • Blog
    • News
    • MyExam EduBlogs
    • Privacy policy
    • Public notice
    • Careers
    • Dhoni Inspires NEET Aspirants
    • Dhoni Inspires JEE Aspirants
  • Help & Support
    • Refund policy
    • Transfer policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Contact us
  • Popular goals
    • NEET Coaching
    • JEE Coaching
    • 6th to 10th
  • Courses
    • Online Courses
    • Distance Learning
    • Online Test Series
    • International Olympiads Online Course
    • NEET Test Series
    • JEE Test Series
    • JEE Main Test Series
  • Centers
    • Kota
    • Bangalore
    • Indore
    • Delhi
    • More centres
  • Exam information
    • JEE Main
    • JEE Advanced
    • NEET UG
    • CBSE
    • NCERT Solutions
    • NEET Mock Test
    • Olympiad
    • NEET 2025 Answer Key
    • JEE Advanced 2025 Answerkey
    • JEE Advanced Rank Predictor

ALLEN Career Institute Pvt. Ltd. © All Rights Reserved.

ISO