Physical Properties
• Nonmetals
• Metals
Chemical Building Blocks
Chapter 3; Section 3 and 4
Metals, Nonmetals and Metalloids
Chemical Properties
• Metals- reactive ones lose electrons to
other atoms (reactivity)
• Nonmetals- most are reactive and form
compounds
- Metals
Metals in the Periodic Table
• The metals in Group 1 are called the alkali
metals. They react with atoms of other elements
by losing one electron.
• Very reactive
• Found only in
compounds
• Shiny and soft
– Shiny luster
– Conduct heat and electricity
– Solid at room temperature
(except mercury)
– Malleable (can be
hammered)
– Ductile (can be drawn into
wire)
– Dull
– Poor conductors
– Many are gases
at room
temperature
– Solid ones are
brittle
Metalloids
– Have characteristics of both metals and
nonmetals
– Are all solid at room temperature
– They vary in ability to conduct electricity (can
depend on temperature, light)
– Most are semiconductors
- Metals
Metals in the Periodic Table
• Group 2 contains the alkaline earth metals. Not
as reactive as the metals in Group 1, but more
reactive than most other metals.
• Lose 2 electrons
• Usually found only in compounds
• Good conductors
• Hard, gray-white
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- Metals
Metals in the Periodic Table
• Group 3-12
• The transition metals are less reactive than the
metals in Groups 1 and 2.
• Most are hard and shiny
• Good conductors
• Most familiar metals
- Metals
Metals in the Periodic Table
• Lanthanides are soft, malleable, shiny metals with high
conductivity. Many are used to make alloys.
- Metals
Metals in the Periodic Table
• Only some of the elements in Groups 13 through 15 of
the periodic table are metals. These metals are not
nearly as reactive as those on the left side of the table.
• Aluminum, tin and lead
- Metals
Metals in the Periodic Table
• The elements below the lanthanides are called actinides.
Many of these elements are so unstable that they last for
only a fraction of a second after they are made.
- Nonmetals and Metalloids
Synthetic Elements
Properties of Nonmetals
• Elements are made when nuclear particles
crash into each other.
• Particle accelerators are used to make
very heavy elements
• When nonmetals react with metals, one or more
electrons move from the metal atoms to the
nonmetal atoms.
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- Nonmetals and Metalloids
Families of Nonmetals
• Each element in the carbon family has atoms
that can gain, lose, or share four electrons when
reacting with atoms of other elements.
- Nonmetals and Metalloids
Families of Nonmetals
• Group 16, the oxygen family, contains three
nonmetals: oxygen, sulfur, and selenium. These
elements usually gain or share two electrons
when reacting with atoms of other elements.
- Nonmetals and Metalloids
Families of Nonmetals
• The elements in Group 18 are known as the
noble gases. They do not ordinarily form
compounds because atoms of noble gases do
not usually gain, lose, or share electrons.
- Nonmetals and Metalloids
Families of Nonmetals
• Group 15, the nitrogen family, contains two
nonmetals: nitrogen and phosphorus. These
non-metals usually gain or share three electrons
when reacting with atoms of other elements.
- Nonmetals and Metalloids
Families of Nonmetals
• The Group 17 (the Halogens) are the most
reactive nonmetals. They form “salts”. These
elements easily form compounds by sharing or
gaining one electron when reacting with other
atoms
- Nonmetals and Metalloids
Families of Nonmetals
• Because the chemical properties of
hydrogen differ very much from those of
the other elements, it really cannot be
grouped into a family.
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