Metals, Nonmetals, and Metalloids: Important Tips to Note

The periodic table houses metals, nonmetals, and metalloids. It is a chart basically formulated by scientists who understand and notices the variations between the properties of different elements in the mid- 1800s.

 The ability of some of these elements to be able to conduct heat and electricity, and the varying reactions of different elements when exposed to different atmospheric conditions for instance were puzzling to scientists and this leads to the invention of the grouping chart called the periodic table today.

The aim of this tutorial is to compare the varying behavioral form of some of these elements.

Definitions of Metals, Non-Metals, and Metalloids:

Metals are elements that are good conductors of heat and electricity, they are usually shiny and malleable in nature and can be made to extend their flexibility when hammered. Examples of the metal include Lithium(Li), Sodium(Na), and Potassium(K) to mention a few among others.

Nonmetals on the other hand refer to those elements or materials that are not good conductors of heat and electricity, they are usually brittle and with no definite shape in nature. Examples include Oxygen(O) and Nitrogen(N).

A metalloid is a term used to describe elements whose properties are between metals and nonmetals, these elements look metallic though but they do not conduct heat and electricity as well as metals, so they are semiconductors. The metalloids are only six in number and comprise Boron, Silicon, Germanium, Arsenic, Antimony, and Tellurium. Their electrons are closely bound to the nuclei which makes it hard to displace these electrons from the valence shell and that distinguishes them from metals.

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Position of Metals, Non-Metals, and Metalloids in the periodic table:

Elements are grouped in the periodic table according to their valence electrons which determines their reactivity pattern. Considering the valence electrons of metals nonmetals and metalloids, scientists are able to analyze the similarities and uniqueness in their physical and chemical properties…

Positions

• Metals are placed and can be found on the bottom left of the periodic table
• The nonmetals are placed on the top right side of the periodic table
• The metalloids are located along a diagonal line separating the metals and nonmetals in the periodic table.

Properties

Metals

1. They are shiny in nature
2. Good heat and electricity conductors
3. They usually are definite in shape
4. They react most rapidly in chemical reactions with nonmetals
5. They tend to easily lose or donate their valence electrons when reacting, that is they have relatively low ionization energy.

Nonmetals

1. Poor conductors of heat and electricity
2. Appearance is dull in nature
3. Ionization energy is usually high

Metalloids

1. Conducts electricity moderately well and possesses some of the characteristics between metals and nonmetals

Differences

Certain factors must be put into consideration in other for us to be able to efficiently distinguish between these substances and these may include the flexibility, texture, shape, etc of these substances for their physical properties and their responsiveness to atmospheric conditions when exposed to their chemical properties.

1. Metals are the most flexible of the three substances.
2. Metals are the best heat and electricity conductors, metalloids have a relatively good heat and electricity conduction rate as well but are not as effective as metal, nonmetals are not a good conductors of heat and electricity.
3. Metalloids are always solid, most metals are solid as well and nonmetals are mostly gasses.
4. Metals have the highest rate of density except for the alkali metals nonmetals have the lowest density and metalloids have an intermediate density rate.
5. Metals and metalloids are usually shiny in nature while nonmetals are dull in appearance.

Similarities

1. Metals and metalloids both conduct heat and electricity.
2. Metalloids as well as nonmetals are liable to break easily under stress or pressure(brittleness).
3. Metals, nonmetals, and metalloids are all elements.

Economic Importance

The importance of metals can be seen in technological advancements around the world, such as the building of bridges, making of machinery, electrical wires, and musical instruments, to mention a few.

Nonmetals like Oxygen are useful in breathing, some are used for the purification of water e.g Chlorine, nonmetals like sulfur are used in the production of insecticide

Summary

• The varying behavioral pattern of elements brought about the invention of the periodic table.

• Metals are very good conductors of heat and electricity.

• Metalloids are semiconductors.

• There basically are only six(6) metalloids in the periodic table.

• The ionization energy of metal is the lowest and nonmetals have the highest ionization energy.

• Metals are the most flexible of the three substances.

Conclusion

Read about the Periodic Table to help you with an in-depth understanding of these substances. You can download the PDF and read further and share this post with more students seeking related topics.

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