Metals and Non-Metals |
Key Concepts
Elements can be classified as metals or non-metals on the basis of their properties.
Physical properties include:
- appearance
- density
- melting and boiling point
- conductivity of heat and electricity
- tensile strength (resistance to bending)
- malleability (ability to roll into sheets)
- ductility (ability to draw into a wire)
Chemical properties include:
- charge on ions formed from the element
- type of bonding found in the element's oxides and chlorides
- pH of the element's oxide
Metals are found on the left hand side of the Periodic Table while non-metals are found on the right hand side.
Properties of Metallic and Non-Metallic Elements
| Property |
Metallic Elements |
Non-Metallic Elements |
|---|
Appearance
(physical property) |
lustrous |
dull |
|---|
Density
(physical property) |
moderate to high |
low to moderate |
|---|
Physical State
(25oC, 101.3kPa)
(physical property) |
solid (except liquid mercury) |
solid, liquid or gas |
|---|
Melting and Boiling Point
(physical property) |
moderate to high |
wide range |
|---|
Heat and Electrical Conductivity
(physical property) |
good |
poor (except graphite) |
|---|
Tensile Strength (resistance to bending)
(physical property) |
high |
brittle |
|---|
Malleability (roll into sheets)
(physical property) |
malleable |
not malleable |
|---|
Ductility (draw into wire)
(physical property) |
ductile |
not ductile |
|---|
Charge on Ions (in general)*
(chemical property) |
forms positive ions |
forms negative ions |
|---|
Bonding in oxides and chlorides
(chemical property) |
usually ionic** |
covalent |
|---|
pH of oxides
(chemical property) |
usually basic*** |
usually acidic |
|---|
*some non-metals can form positive or negative ions, eg, H+ and H-
**some metal oxides are covalent, eg, Al2O3
***some metal oxides are amphoteric (both acidic and basic), eg, Al2O3
Examples of Metals and Non-metals
| Property |
Metal |
Non-Metal |
|---|
| magnesium |
zinc |
oxygen |
sulfur |
|---|
| Density (g/mL) |
1.74 |
7.14 |
0.0013 |
2.07 |
|---|
| Melting Point (oC) |
650 |
419 |
-219 |
113 |
|---|
| Electrical Conductivity (megaohm-1) |
23 |
16 |
0 |
10-21 |
|---|
| Charge on Ion |
2+ |
2+ |
2- |
2- |
|---|
| Bonding in Oxides |
MgO
ionic |
ZnO
ionic |
O2
covalent |
SO2
covalent |
|---|
Position of Metallic and Non-Metallic Elements in the Periodic Table
| Metals | Metals occur on the left hand side of the Periodic Table. |
| Non-metals | Non-metals occur on the right hand side of the Periodic Table. |
Semi-metals
(metalloids) | Semi-metals with properties in between metals and non-metals occur between these two groups. (B, Si, Ge, As, Sb, Te) |
| metals |
non-metals |
| H |
| |
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He |
| Li |
Be |
|
B |
C |
N |
O |
F |
Ne |
| Na |
Mg |
|
Al |
Si |
P |
S |
Cl |
Ar |
| K |
Ca |
Transition Metals |
Ga |
Ge |
As |
Se |
Br |
Kr |
| Rb |
Sr |
Transition Metals |
In |
Sn |
Sb |
Te |
I |
Xe |
| Cs |
Ba |
Transition Metals |
Tl |
Pb |
Bi |
Po |
At |
Rn |
| Fr |
Ra |
Transition Metals |
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Related AUS-e-TUTE Topics |
| Pure Substances and Mixtures
Elements and Compounds
Allotropes
History of the Elements
Physical and Chemical Changes
Periodic Table of the Elements
Density Calculations
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