Properties of Metals &

Non-Metals

Ch. 17: Families of Elements

Prop. Of Metals & Non-Metals:

What gives elements their

different properties?

Properties of Metals:

Luster

Good conductors of heat & electricity

High Density—Heavy for their size

High Melting Point

Ductile

Malleable

Chemical Properties of Metals: 1,2,3, or 4 Valence Electrons

Valence Electrons are weakly held

* Metals lose electrons easily &

become positively charged.

Reactive w/H2O & atmospheric gases

Corrosion – The reaction that changes a metal into a metallic compound.

e.g. Rust = Iron (III) oxide

Silver Tarnish = Silver sulfide

Copper Patina = Copper (I) oxide and Copper (II) oxide

Chemical Properties of Metals:

Alloys—Mixture of a metal & metal or metal

& non-metal

e.g. Steel = Iron & Carbon

Brass = Copper & Zinc

Physical Properties of Non-Metals:

Opposite of Metals

Can be very different from one another

e.g. Bromine – Red Liquid

Oxygen – Colorless Gas

Sulfur – Yellow Solid

Chemical Properties of Non-Metals:

Opposite of Metals

Non-Metals tend to gain electrons

5, 6, 7, 8 valence electrons

Metalloids:

Metalloids are metal-like.

Display properties of both metals & non-metals

All are solids

Located on either side of the zig-zag line (except Al)

Not as shiny as metals

Active Metals:

Alkali Metals-Group Ia

Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Fr

Have properties of metals but are soft and less

dense.

Most reactive metals — never found naturally

as a free element

*Reactivity is due to the ease of Alkalis to lose

their 1 outer electron.

Active Metals

Alkali Metals-Group Ia – continued

Alkalis react violently w/H2O producing heat,

H2 gas, and a base (also called an alkali

compound)

https://youtu.be/DxzFf1ku6cE

Alkalis can be identified by colors produced

when heated.

Alkalis have few but very important uses

* Na & K in animal nervous system.

Active Metals: Alkaline Earth Metals - Group IIA Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, and Radium

Harder and Denser than Alkali

Highly reactive, but not as much as Alkali

Uses:

Mg + Al Strong, lightweight alloy

Mg compounds used in medicines,

flashbulbs and flares.

Ca compounds found in marble, limestone,

concrete, bones & teeth.

All lose their 2 outer electrons easily and form positive ions.

Transition Metals:

Group B

These do not seem to fit into any of the other

eight families.

Excellent conductors of heat and electricity.

High melting point

Much less reactive than Alkalines

Usually combine w/Oxygen to form oxides

Transition Metals:

Have multiple oxidation numbers

e.g Fe can lose 2 or 3 electrons

Some are brittle

Some form bright colored compounds used as

paint pigments

Metals Non-Metals

Boron Family

Boron, Aluminum, Gallium, Indium, Thallium

Boron

Metalloid

Brittle & Hard

Usually found naturally as boric oxide

Used in – Heat resistant glass

-- Antiseptics

-- Borax Cleaner

Metals Non-Metals

Aluminum

Most abundant metal

3rd most abundant element in the earth’s crust

Multiple uses

Gallium

Semi-conducting metal

Used in LEDs and blue lasers.

Metals Non-Metals

Indium

Very soft, malleable, rare metal

Used in LEDs and blue lasers

Used in nuclear medicine

Liquid crystal displays and touchscreens

Thallium

Not found free in nature

Highly toxic

Metals Non-Metals

Carbon Family

Carbon, Silicon, Germanium, Tin & Lead

Carbon—Non-Metal

Carbon compounds except CO2, CO & H2CO3

are called “organic compounds.”

Important for Life

Metals Non-Metals

Silicon—Metalloid

2nd most abundant element on the earth

Used for glass, solar cells, computer chips

Germanium—Metalloid

Used in transistors

Metals Non-Metals

Tin—Metal

Resists Corrosion

Used to Tin Cans

Lead—Metal

Dense & Soft

Was used in gasoline, paints & solder

Used in shot shells & fishing weights

Metals Non-Metals

Nitrogen Family

Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Arsenic, Antimony, & Bismuth

All have 5 valence electrons

Nitrogen—Non-Metal Most abundant atmospheric element that forms a

strong triple bond w/itself

Important to life—A major element of aminon acids

(building blocks of proteins)

Used as fertilizer, drugs, cleaners (NH3=Ammonia)

Metals Non-Metals

Phosphorus—Non-Metal

Important in organic compounds

Fertilizer

Match tips

Arsenic—Metalloid

Used in Pesticides

A trace element in Animals

Metals Non-Metals

Antimony—Metalloid

Used in making alloys

Bismuth—Metal

Used in alloys & medicines for indigestion (Pepto-

Bismol)

Metals Non-Metals

Oxygen Family

Oxygen, Sulfur, Selenium, Tellurium, Polonium

6 Valence Electrons

Oxygen— Most abundant earth element

Very reactive

Combines w/almost every element

Colorless gas

Facilitates Combustion

Necessary for most life-respiration

Metals Non-Metals

Sulfur— Solid, Non-metal, Brittle

Used in drugs, insecticides, matches, gun powder & rubber

Essential elements for life

Selenium– Solid, Brittle, Non-Metal

Used in making red glass & enamels

Tellurium— Used in Alloys

Polonium— Rare, radioactive element

Halogens:

Fluorine, Chlorine, Bromine, Iodine, Astatine

All are nonmetallic

7 valence electrons

Most active non-metals

Tend to gain electrons & form negative ions

Never found as free elements

Halogens:

Combine easily w/metals (especially aklalis) & forms salts

*Halos = Salt, genos = formers

Greek for “salt-formers”

e.g. NaCl = Table Salt

NaF = Used to flouridate water

CaCl2 = Used for de-icing streets

As gases, Halogens are diatomic molecules.

Halogens:

Fluorine– Most active Halogen

Chlorine—A poisonous gas

Bromine—A red liquid

Iodine—A solid used in solution for antiseptic

Astatine—Solid, radioactive metalloid

Noble Gases:

Colorless Gas

Extremely Unreactive (called inert)

Rare

Small amounts of atmospheric gases

Extremely low boiling points

Helium = 4.2K

Noble Gases:

Helium–

Used in balloons, decompression in under water

crafts, welding of magnesium and aluminum.

Neon–

Used in Lights & Lasers

Argon–

Most abudant noble gas (~1% of atmosphere)

Used in light bulbs and welding.

Noble Gases:

Krypton–

Used for ?

Xenon–

Used in photographic lamps.

Radon

Used in cancer treatment.

Rare Earth Elements:

All have similar properties.

Lanthanoid Series—

Soft malleable metals

High Luster

High Conductivity

Used in some alloys & high quality glass

Actinoid Series—

All are radioactive

Best known & most widely used is Uranium