Metals, Nonmetals, and Metalloids

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

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.