📖 Reading Passage: Metals, Non-metals, and Metalloids

All materials around us are made of different types of elements. Scientists group these elements into three main categories: metals, non-metals, and metalloids.

Metals are shiny materials that can conduct electricity and heat very well. They are also malleable, which means they can be hammered into different shapes without breaking. Common metals include iron, copper, gold, and aluminium. We use metals to make coins, cooking pots, electrical wires, and car parts. Most metals are solid at room temperature, except for mercury, which is liquid.

Non-metals are very different from metals. They are usually dull (not shiny) and do not conduct electricity or heat well. Non-metals can be solids, liquids, or gases at room temperature. Examples include oxygen (a gas we breathe), carbon (found in pencil lead), and sulfur (a yellow solid). Non-metals are often brittle, meaning they break easily when hammered.

Metalloids are special elements that have properties of both metals and non-metals. Silicon is a common metalloid used to make computer chips. Metalloids can sometimes conduct electricity, but not as well as metals.

Understanding these differences helps scientists choose the right materials for different jobs. For example, copper wires carry electricity in our homes because copper is an excellent conductor!

🧠 Part 1: Multiple Choice Questions

✏️ Part 2: True or False & Short Answers

a) _________________ b) _________________

Silicon is used to make _________________________.