An Introduction to Metals and Non-Metals
Metals and nonmetals are two distinct types of materials that we come across in our everyday life. Metals and non-metals are two categories of elements. Nonmetals (such as phosphorus and sulphur) are insulators, while metals (such as copper and aluminum) are good conductors of heat and electricity. Materials are classified according to their physical and chemical properties. Understanding the difference between metal and non metal will help students form a base for learning advanced chemistry. On the basis of their physical and chemical properties, scientists had discovered the arrangement of metals and nonmetals periodic table.
Metals
Metals account for the majority of the elements in the periodic table. Alkali metals, lanthanides, actinides, transition metals, and alkaline earth metals are all examples of this. In a periodic table, metals are separated from nonmetals by a line that runs from carbon to radon. The elements that distinguish the two are phosphorus, selenium, and iodine.
Non Metals
Non-metals account for half of the periodic table. These can be found on the periodic table's right-hand side. Sulphur, carbon, all halogens, phosphorus, hydrogen, oxygen, selenium, nitrogen, and noble gases are all non-metals. Bromine is a non-metal which is liquid at room temperature.
Position of Metals in the Periodic Table
Nonmetals are these and the elements next to them in the periodic table. Semimetals or metalloids are elements that exist just to the left of the line. These will have qualities that are a mix of metals and nonmetals.
Position of Non-Metals in the Periodic Table
Non-metals are found to the left of halogens and to the right of metalloids in the periodic table. Noble gases and halogens are commonly referred to as non-metals.
Periodic Table Metals and Non-metals Positions
In Periodic table metals and nonmetals are shown above. The pink color above indicates the nonmetal periodic table and the blue color indicates the metals periodic table. Among these diamonds and iodine are lustrous nonmetals. Fluorine is the most reactive nonmetal. Bromine is a liquid non metal at room temperature.
Physical Properties of Metals
Metals are solids at room temperature (Gallium is liquid on hot days), except mercury which is liquid at room temperature.
Luster: Metals, such as gold, silver, and copper, have the ability to reflect light from their surface and can be polished.
Metals are malleable, meaning they can survive hammering and be formed into thin sheets known as foils. A sugar cube-sized lump of gold, for example, maybe crushed into a thin sheet large enough to cover a football field.
Metals can be pulled into wires due to their ductility. For example, 100 g of silver can be pulled into a 200-meter-long thin wire.
Hardness: Except for sodium and potassium, which are soft and can be cut with a knife, all metals are hard.
Metals have 1 to 3 electrons in the outermost shell of their atoms, which gives them their valency.
Metals are good conductors due to their abundance of free electrons. Silver and copper are the best heat and electricity conductors. Lead is the least efficient heat conductor. Iron, bismuth, and mercury are likewise poor conductors.
Metals have a high density and are therefore heavy. The densities of iridium and osmium are the highest, whereas lithium has the lowest density.
Boiling and melting points: Metals have high melting and boiling points. The melting and boiling points of tungsten are the highest, whereas mercury is the lowest. The melting points of sodium and potassium are also low.
Physical Properties of NonMetals
At ambient temperature, the majority of non-metals exist in two of the three states of matter: gases (oxygen) and solids (carbon). At room temperature, bromine exists as a liquid.
Non-malleable and ductile materials are brittle and can't be rolled into wires or pounded into sheets.
Conduction: They are poor heat and electrical conductors.
There is no metallic shine to these, and they do not reflect light.
Non-metals melting and boiling points are generally lower than metals', but they are highly varied.
Non metals examples- H2(g), N2(g), O2(g), F2(g), Cl2(g), Br2(l), I2(s) are the seven non-metals that exist as diatomic molecules under normal conditions.
Difference Between Metals and Non-Metals
The Difference Between Metals and Non-Metals Based on Chemical Properties is Tabulated Below.
Did You Know?
The most abundant metal on the earth is iron, and it also makes up a significant portion of the planet's core.
Aluminum is the most common metal found in the Earth's crust.
Silver is the best conductor of electricity of all metals.
In damp air, noble metals such as silver, gold, and platinum resist oxidation and corrosion.
Alloys are made up of two or more elements, typically two metals or a metal and a non-metal.
Conclusion
Metals and nonmetals are two distinct types of materials that we come across in our everyday life. In periodic table metals are found in the left side of the periodic table from group 1st to 2nd and nonmetals are found in the right side of the periodic table from group 13 to 18. Metals are lustrous, solid, malleable, sonorous, high melting point while non metals possess its opposite property.
FAQs on What are Metals and Non-Metals?
1. What are metals and what are some common examples?
Metals are elements that are typically shiny, solid, and good conductors of heat and electricity. They tend to lose electrons to form positive ions. Common examples you see every day include iron used in construction, copper in electrical wires, and aluminium in foil and cans.
2. What are the most important physical properties of metals?
Metals share several key physical properties that make them useful. These generally include:
- Lustre: They have a shiny surface.
- Hardness: Most metals are hard and strong.
- Malleability: They can be beaten into thin sheets.
- Ductility: They can be drawn into wires.
- Conductivity: They are good conductors of both heat and electricity.
- Sonority: They produce a ringing sound when struck.
3. What are non-metals and where can we find them in daily life?
Non-metals are elements that generally lack the properties of metals. They are typically poor conductors, not shiny, and brittle. Non-metals can be solids, liquids, or gases at room temperature. You can find them all around you; for example, oxygen in the air we breathe, carbon in pencils (graphite), and sulphur, which is a yellow solid.
4. What are the main differences between metals and non-metals?
The main differences lie in their physical and chemical properties. While metals are generally lustrous, malleable, and good conductors, non-metals are typically dull, brittle, and poor conductors. Chemically, metals form basic oxides and tend to lose electrons, whereas non-metals form acidic oxides and tend to gain electrons.
5. Why are metals good conductors of heat and electricity?
Metals are good conductors because they contain free electrons. These electrons are not attached to any single atom and can move freely throughout the metal's structure. This 'sea' of electrons can easily carry an electrical current or transfer heat energy from one part of the metal to another, making them excellent conductors.
6. What makes some elements, like silicon, 'metalloids'?
Elements are called metalloids when they show properties that are intermediate between metals and non-metals. For instance, silicon looks shiny like a metal but is brittle like a non-metal. More importantly, its ability to conduct electricity is between that of a conductor and an insulator, making it a semiconductor, which is vital for electronics.
7. Can a non-metal be shiny or conduct electricity like a metal?
Yes, there are a few important exceptions. For example, iodine is a non-metal that has a lustrous, shiny appearance similar to metals. Another key exception is graphite, a form of the non-metal carbon, which is a good conductor of electricity.
8. How do the chemical properties of metals and non-metals differ when they react with oxygen?
This is a key chemical difference. Metals react with oxygen to form metal oxides, which are typically basic in nature. For example, magnesium burns to form magnesium oxide, which dissolves in water to form a base. Non-metals, on the other hand, react with oxygen to form non-metal oxides, which are acidic. For example, sulphur burns to form sulphur dioxide, which creates an acid in water.
9. What are some real-world uses of metals and non-metals based on their specific properties?
The properties of these elements directly determine their uses:
- Copper is used for electrical wiring because it is highly ductile and a great conductor of electricity.
- Gold and Silver are used in jewellery because they are lustrous and unreactive.
- Oxygen, a non-metal, is essential for respiration in all living things.
- Chlorine, another non-metal, is used to disinfect water due to its powerful chemical reactivity as a disinfectant.
