8 Questions
What is a characteristic of metals?
Being good conductors of electricity and heat
Which of the following is a characteristic of non-metals?
Poor conductors of electricity and heat
What do metals tend to do in chemical reactions?
Lose electrons to form cations
What is a characteristic of non-metals in chemical reactions?
Gain electrons to form anions
What is the term for elements that exhibit some properties of metals and some properties of non-metals?
Metalloids
Which of the following is an example of a metal?
Sodium
Which of the following is an example of a non-metal?
Neon
Where are metals often found in the periodic table?
Left and center of the periodic table
Study Notes
Physical Properties of Metals and Non-Metals
Metals:
- Typically shiny and lustrous
- Good conductors of electricity and heat
- Malleable (can be shaped into thin sheets) and ductile (can be stretched into thin wires)
- High density
- High melting and boiling points
- Often found in the left and center of the periodic table
Non-Metals:
- Dull and non-lustrous
- Poor conductors of electricity and heat
- Brittle (break easily) and non-ductile
- Low density
- Low melting and boiling points
- Often found in the right side of the periodic table
Chemical Properties of Metals and Non-Metals
Metals:
- Tend to lose electrons to form cations (positively charged ions)
- React with acids to produce hydrogen gas
- React with oxygen to produce oxides
Non-Metals:
- Tend to gain electrons to form anions (negatively charged ions)
- Do not react with acids to produce hydrogen gas
- React with oxygen to produce oxides, but often in a different way than metals
Examples of Metals and Non-Metals
Metals:
- Alkali metals (e.g. sodium, potassium)
- Alkaline earth metals (e.g. magnesium, calcium)
- Transition metals (e.g. iron, copper)
- Post-transition metals (e.g. zinc, tin)
Non-Metals:
- Noble gases (e.g. helium, neon)
- Halogens (e.g. chlorine, iodine)
- Chalcogens (e.g. oxygen, sulfur)
- Pnictogens (e.g. nitrogen, phosphorus)
- Carbon and its allotropes (e.g. diamond, graphite)
Metalloids
- A group of elements that exhibit some properties of metals and some properties of non-metals
- Examples: silicon, germanium, arsenic, antimony, tellurium
- Often found on the border between metals and non-metals in the periodic table
Physical Properties of Metals and Non-Metals
- Metals are typically shiny and lustrous, good conductors of electricity and heat, and have high density and high melting and boiling points.
- Metals are also malleable (can be shaped into thin sheets) and ductile (can be stretched into thin wires).
- Non-metals are dull and non-lustrous, poor conductors of electricity and heat, and have low density and low melting and boiling points.
- Non-metals are brittle (break easily) and non-ductile.
Chemical Properties of Metals and Non-Metals
- Metals tend to lose electrons to form cations (positively charged ions) and react with acids to produce hydrogen gas.
- Metals react with oxygen to produce oxides.
- Non-metals tend to gain electrons to form anions (negatively charged ions) and do not react with acids to produce hydrogen gas.
- Non-metals react with oxygen to produce oxides, but often in a different way than metals.
Examples of Metals and Non-Metals
Metals
- Alkali metals (e.g. sodium, potassium) are examples of metals.
- Alkaline earth metals (e.g. magnesium, calcium) are examples of metals.
- Transition metals (e.g. iron, copper) are examples of metals.
- Post-transition metals (e.g. zinc, tin) are examples of metals.
Non-Metals
- Noble gases (e.g. helium, neon) are examples of non-metals.
- Halogens (e.g. chlorine, iodine) are examples of non-metals.
- Chalcogens (e.g. oxygen, sulfur) are examples of non-metals.
- Pnictogens (e.g. nitrogen, phosphorus) are examples of non-metals.
- Carbon and its allotropes (e.g. diamond, graphite) are examples of non-metals.
Metalloids
- Metalloids are a group of elements that exhibit some properties of metals and some properties of non-metals.
- Examples of metalloids include silicon, germanium, arsenic, antimony, and tellurium.
- Metalloids are often found on the border between metals and non-metals in the periodic table.
Learn about the characteristics of metals and non-metals, including their appearance, conductivity, malleability, density, and melting and boiling points.
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