Physical Properties of Metals and Non-Metals

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.