 Custom Search link to the Group 1 The Alkali Metals back to Periodic Table Links Metals, Nonmetals and Metalloids
The Periodic Table of Elements can be divided in 3 groups; Metals, nonmetals and metalloids (semimetals).
The Metals Metals make up most of the Periodic Table. They are located on the left side (excluding Hydrogen). There is one room temperature liquid metal; mercury.
Properties of Metals luster (they are shiny) malleability (they can be hammered into sheets) they are ductile (can be made into wire) they generally have high melting points (except mercury, it is a liquid at room temperature) they conduct electricity (copper wiring) they form cations (positive ions) low electronegativity and ionization energy they form ionic compounds when bonded to nonmetals (salt NaCl) they form alloys with other metals (brass-Cu & Zn, bronze Cu & Sn, steel, etc.)
The nonmetals Located on the right side of the periodic table (including hydrogen). Some chemist consider the Noble Gases to be nonmetals other do not. I will leave that up to you to decide. Bromine is a liquid at room temperature.
Properties of nonmetals- they are either soft solids, liquids or gases at room temperature they are brittle (break apart easy) they lack luster (dull) form negative ions (anions) have a high electronegativity and ionization energy
Metalloids
Have properties of both nonmetals and metals. They somewhat conduct electricity. They have neither high nor low melting points. Luster but not really. I think you get the picture. These are found on the staircase of your Periodic Table (exclude Aluminum, it is a metal).
Tends in Periodic Properties As you move from left to right the elements become more nonmetallic in character. As you move down a group the elements become more metallic in character. Look at group 15
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