Metals, Nonmetals, andMetalloids

Metals

Characteristics of metals

• Metals are solids (for the exception of Mercury which is a liquid) at room temperature

• They are good conductors (of heat and electricity)

• Copper, silver, and gold are good electrical conductors. In a conductor, electric current can flow freely. Since metals have free electrons, they can carry a charge easily.

• They are shiny (luster the way an object’s surface reflects light)

Characteristics of metals cont.

• They are ductile (can be drawn into a wire)

• They are malleable (can be hammered into a thin sheet)

• Metals tend to lose electrons in chemical reactions and form positive ions.

• Metals react with non metals to form compounds

Nonmetals

NONMETALS

• Most nonmetals are gases at room temperature (except Bromine which is a liquid and Iodine and Carbon, which are solids)

• They are dull such as carbon

• They are brittle when in solid form such as prosperous

• Poor conductors of heat and electricity. They are insulators.

• They tend to gain electrons in chemical reactions and form negative ions

• Nonmetals react with metals to form compounds

Metalloids

Metalloids• Are found on the stair step line on the periodic

table.• They have both characteristics of metals and

non-metals. Some are shiny, some are dull, they are somewhat malleable and ductile, and can conduct heat and electricity at a lesser level than metals.

• They are also called the semi-metals.

• They are semiconductors (this makes them very valuable in the computer industry)

• They are useful because they conduct just the right amount of electricity or heat.