notes on metals and non metals
Metals:
- Metals are typically hard, shiny, and have high levels of density.
- They are good conductors of heat and electricity.
- Metals are malleable, which means they can be hammered or pressed into various shapes without breaking.
- They are ductile, meaning they can be drawn into thin wires without breaking.
- Most metals have high melting and boiling points.
- They tend to lose electrons and form positive ions when reacting with non-metals.
Non-metals:
- Non-metals can exist in various forms, such as gases, liquids, or solids.
- They have lower levels of density compared to metals.
- Non-metals are generally poor conductors of heat and electricity.
- They can be brittle and easily break when subjected to force.
- Non-metals have lower melting and boiling points compared to metals.
- They tend to gain or share electrons with other atoms when forming compounds.
Metals and non-metals are two broad categories of elements based on their physical and chemical properties. Here are some notes on metals and non-metals:
1. Metals:
- Metals are generally solid at room temperature (except for mercury), and have a shiny luster.
- They are good conductors of heat and electricity due to the presence of a large number of free electrons.
- Metals are malleable and ductile, meaning they can be hammered into thin sheets (malleability) and drawn into wires (ductility).
- They have high tensile strength, which means they can withstand a stretching force without breaking.
- Metals tend to lose electrons and form positive ions known as cations when they undergo chemical reactions.
- Some common properties of metals include high melting and boiling points, high density, and good thermal and electrical conductivity.
- Examples of metals include iron, copper, aluminum, gold, silver, and zinc.
2. Non-metals:
- Non-metals can be in different physical states, such as solids (e.g., sulfur), liquids (e.g., bromine), or gases (e.g., oxygen).
- They generally lack a lustrous appearance and are poor conductors of heat and electricity.
- Non-metals are brittle, meaning they break easily when subjected to stress.
- They tend to gain or share electrons during chemical reactions and form negative ions known as anions.
- Non-metals have low melting and boiling points, low density, and low thermal and electrical conductivity.
- Examples of non-metals include carbon, sulfur, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and helium.
It is important to note that there are elements that can exhibit properties of both metals and non-metals, known as metalloids or semi-metals. Examples of metalloids include silicon, arsenic, germanium, and boron.
These notes provide a general overview of the characteristics of metals and non-metals. However, it's important to understand that there are exceptions and variations to these properties within each category.