Metals, Nonmetals, and Metalloids - Questions

The Metals, Nonmetals, and Metalloids Concept Builder is comprised of 28 questions. The questions are organized into 12 different Question Groups and spread across three different activities. Questions in the same group are rather similar to one another. The Concept Builder is coded to select at random a question from each group until a student is successful with that group of questions.

There are three activities in the Concept Builder. Those three activities are differentiated as follows:
 

• Properties: Question Groups 1-4 ... Two or more chemical and/or physical properties of an element are described. Learners must use the information to determine if the element is a metal, a nonmetal, or a metalloid.
• Triple Play: Question Groups 5-8 ... Learners are presented with the names and symbols of three elements; one is a metal, one is a nonmetal, and one is a metalloid. They must decide which element falls into each category.
• Location, Location, Location: Question Groups 9-12 ... Students are presented with the names and symbols of eight elements. They must determine which of the given elements are metals (or nonmetals, or metalloids, depending on which Question Group it is).

The questions from each group are shown below. Teachers are encouraged to view the questions in order to judge which difficulty levels are most appropriate for their classes. We recommend providing students two or more options. 

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Metals, Nonmetals, and Metalloids

 
Activity 1: Properties
Question Group 1
Question 1
I am an element that conducts both electricity and heat. Scientists refer to me as a _____.
Metal
Nonmetal
Metalloid
 
 
Question 2
I am an element that does NOT conduct electricity nor heat. Scientists refer to me as a _____.
Metal
Nonmetal
Metalloid
 
 
 
 
Question Group 2
Question 3
When you tap me with a hammer I do NOT shatter. And I am easily drawn into wires. Scientists refer to me as a _____.
Metal
Nonmetal
Metalloid
 
 
Question 4
When you tap me with a hammer I do shatter. And anyone who knows me would never even attempt to make a wire out of me. Scientists refer to me as a _____.
Metal
Nonmetal
Metalloid
 
 
 
 
Question Group 3
Question 5
I am an element with a high melting point, a solid at room temperature, and have a shine to me that is quite striking. Scientists refer to me as a _____.
Metal
Nonmetal
Metalloid
 
 
Question 6
I am an element with a low melting point and low boiling point. I happen to be a gas at room temperature. Scientists refer to me as a _____.
Metal
Nonmetal
Metalloid
 
 
 
 
Question Group 4
Question 7
I am an element that shatters when struck with a hammer. I make up for this because I am a great conductor of electricity.  But when it comes to conducting heat, I am not the element for the job. Scientists refer to me as a _____.
Metal
Nonmetal
Metalloid
 
 
Question 8
I am an element that is very lustrous.  I have a high melting point and form a solid at room temperature. I am neither ductile or malleable so don’t even think of forming a wire out of me or a hammering me into a sheet. Scientists refer to me as a _____.
Metal
Nonmetal
Metalloid
 
 
 

 
Activity 2: Triple Play
Question Group 5
Question 9
Of the three elements listed below, one is a metal, one is a nonmetal, and one is a metalloid. Identify which category the three elements fall into.

Aluminum (Al)
Silicon (Si)
Sulfur (S)
 
 
Question 10
Of the three elements listed below, one is a metal, one is a nonmetal, and one is a metalloid. Identify which category the three elements fall into.
 
Gallium (Ga)
Arsenic (As)
Bromine (Br)
 
 
Question 11
Of the three elements listed below, one is a metal, one is a nonmetal, and one is a metalloid. Identify which category the three elements fall into.
 
Tin (Sn)
Antimony (Sb)
Iodine (I)
 
 
 
 
Question Group 6
Question 12
Of the three elements listed below, one is a metal, one is a nonmetal, and one is a metalloid. Identify which category the three elements fall into.
 
Carbon (C)
Germanium (Ge)
Lead (Pb)
 
 

Question 13
Of the three elements listed below, one is a metal, one is a nonmetal, and one is a metalloid. Identify which category the three elements fall into.
 
Nitrogen (N)
Antimony (Sb)
Bismuth (Bi)
 
 
Question 14
Of the three elements listed below, one is a metal, one is a nonmetal, and one is a metalloid. Identify which category the three elements fall into.
 
Oxygen (O)
Tellurium (Te)
Lead (Pb)
 
 
 
 
 
Question Group 7
Question 15
Of the three elements listed below, one is a metal, one is a nonmetal, and one is a metalloid. Identify which category the three elements fall into.
 
Calcium (Ca)
Arsenic (As)
Nitrogen (N)
 

 
Question 16
Of the three elements listed below, one is a metal, one is a nonmetal, and one is a metalloid. Identify which category the three elements fall into.
 
Silver (Ag)
Antimony (Sb)
Sulfur (S)
 
 

Question 17
Of the three elements listed below, one is a metal, one is a nonmetal, and one is a metalloid. Identify which category the three elements fall into.
 
Thallium (Tl)
Boron (B)
Oxygen (O)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Question Group 8
Question 18
Of the three elements listed below, one is a metal, one is a nonmetal, and one is a metalloid. Identify which category the three elements fall into.
 
Osmium (Os)
Germanium (Ge)
Fluorine (F)
 
 
Question 19
Of the three elements listed below, one is a metal, one is a nonmetal, and one is a metalloid. Identify which category the three elements fall into.
 
Mercury (Hg)
Antimony (Sb)
Bromine (Br)

 
 
Question 20
Of the three elements listed below, one is a metal, one is a nonmetal, and one is a metalloid. Identify which category the three elements fall into.
 
Zinc (Zn)
Tellurium (Te)
 Radon (Rn)
 
 

 
Activity 3:  Location, Location, Location
Question Group 9
Question 21
Consider the list of eight elements. Identify all the elements that are metals.
Bromine (Br)
Carbon (C)
Mercury (Hg)
Neon (Ne)
Potassium (K)
Thallium (Tl)
Uranium (U)
Zirconium (Zr)
 
 
Question 22
Consider the list of eight elements. Identify all the elements that are metals.
Argon (Ar)
Chlorine (Cl)
Cobalt (Co)
Lead (Pb)
Magnesium (Mg)
Nitrogen (N)
Plutonium (Pu)
Silicon (Si)
 
 
 
 
Question Group 10
Question 23
Consider the list of eight elements. Identify all the elements that are metals.
Arsenic (As)
Boron (B)
Fluorine (F)
Krypton (Kr)
Sodium (Na)
Technetium (Tc)
Tin (Sn)
Titanium (Ti)
 
 
Question 24
Consider the list of eight elements. Identify all the elements that are metals.
Bismuth (Bi)
Iodine (I)
Iron (Fe)
Manganese (Mn)
Radon (Rn)
Selenium (Se)
Strontium (Sr)
Tellurium (Te)
 
 
 
 
Question Group 11
Question 25
Consider the list of eight elements. Identify all the elements that are nonmetals.
Bromine (Br)
Gallium (Ga)
Helium (He)
Lanthanum (La)
Lead (Pb)
Nickel (Ni)
Oxygen (O)
Potassium (K)
 
 
Question 26
Consider the list of eight elements. Identify all the elements that are nonmetals.
Actinium (Ac)
Cobalt (Co)
Indium (In)
Iodine (I)
Neon (Ne)
Nitrogen (N)
Sodium (Na)
Tin (Sn)
 
 
 
 
Question Group 12
Question 27
Consider the list of eight elements. Identify all the elements that are metalloids.
Boron (B)
Iodine (I)
Lanthanum (La)
Oxygen (O)
Silicon (Si)
Sodium (Na)
Sulfur (S)
Vanadium (V)
 
 
Question 28
Consider the list of eight elements. Identify all the elements that are metalloids.
Actinium (Ac)
Antimony (Sb)
Argon (Ar)
Barium (Ba)
Calcium (Ca)
Chromium (Cr)
Germanium (Ge)
Sulfur (S)