Difference between revisions of "Nonmetal" - New World Encyclopedia

From New World Encyclopedia
Line 1: Line 1:
−
'''Nonmetal''' is a term used in [[chemistry]] when classifying the [[chemical element]]s. On the basis of their general physical and chemical properties, every element in the [[periodic table]] can be termed either a [[metal]] or a non-metal. (A few elements with intermediate properties are referred to as [[metalloid]]s.)  
+
'''Nonmetal''' is a term used in [[chemistry]] when classifying the [[chemical element]]s. On the basis of their general physical and chemical properties, the element of the [[periodic table]] can be classified as [[metal]]s, nonmetals, and [[metalloid]]s.
 +
 
 +
Only eighteen elements in the periodic table are generally considered nonmetals, compared to over eighty metals, but nonmetals make up most of the crust, atmosphere and oceans of the [[earth]]. Bulk tissues of living [[organism]]s are composed almost entirely of nonmetals. Most nonmetals form [[monatomic]] or [[diatomic molecule]]s in their elemental state, unlike metals which (in their elemental state) do not form molecules at all.
 +
 
 +
== List of nonmetals ==
  
 
The elements generally regarded as nonmetals are:   
 
The elements generally regarded as nonmetals are:   
Line 9: Line 13:
 
* All elements in Group 18 - the [[noble gas]]es
 
* All elements in Group 18 - the [[noble gas]]es
 
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Nonmetals at 3 million atmospheres.png|thumb|400px|A possible form of periodic table at a pressure of three million atmospheres. It is possible that all the elements become metallic at sufficiently high pressure. The elements C, N, F, Cl, Ne, Ar, Kr, and He (in grey) have not yet been investigated at sufficiently high pressures to achieve metallisation.<ref>{{citejournal|journal=ChemPhysChem|volume=3|issue=1|pages=53 - 56|published=2002-01-14|author=Peter P. Edwards, Friedrich Hensel|title=Metallic Oxygen|publisher=WILEY-VCH-Verlag|location=Weinheim, Germany|year=2002|url=http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/89014409/ABSTRACT?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0|accessdate=2008-01-08}}</ref>]] —>
 
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Nonmetals at 3 million atmospheres.png|thumb|400px|A possible form of periodic table at a pressure of three million atmospheres. It is possible that all the elements become metallic at sufficiently high pressure. The elements C, N, F, Cl, Ne, Ar, Kr, and He (in grey) have not yet been investigated at sufficiently high pressures to achieve metallisation.<ref>{{citejournal|journal=ChemPhysChem|volume=3|issue=1|pages=53 - 56|published=2002-01-14|author=Peter P. Edwards, Friedrich Hensel|title=Metallic Oxygen|publisher=WILEY-VCH-Verlag|location=Weinheim, Germany|year=2002|url=http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/89014409/ABSTRACT?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0|accessdate=2008-01-08}}</ref>]] —>
 +
 +
== General properties ==
  
 
There is no rigorous definition for the term "nonmetal" - it covers a general spectrum of behavior. Common properties considered characteristic of a nonmetal include:
 
There is no rigorous definition for the term "nonmetal" - it covers a general spectrum of behavior. Common properties considered characteristic of a nonmetal include:
Line 16: Line 22:
 
* usually have lower [[density|densities]] than metals
 
* usually have lower [[density|densities]] than metals
 
* they have significantly lower [[melting point]]s and [[boiling point]]s than metals
 
* they have significantly lower [[melting point]]s and [[boiling point]]s than metals
−
* non-metals have high [[electronegativity]]
+
* nonmetals have high [[electronegativity]]
−
 
 
−
Only eighteen elements in the periodic table are generally considered nonmetals, compared to over eighty metals, but nonmetals make up most of the crust, atmosphere and oceans of the [[earth]]. Bulk tissues of living [[organism]]s are composed almost entirely of nonmetals. Most nonmetals form [[monatomic]] or [[diatomic molecule]]s in their elemental state, unlike metals which (in their elemental state) do not form molecules at all.
 
  
 
===Metallization at huge pressures===
 
===Metallization at huge pressures===

Revision as of 00:10, 24 July 2008

Nonmetal is a term used in chemistry when classifying the chemical elements. On the basis of their general physical and chemical properties, the element of the periodic table can be classified as metals, nonmetals, and metalloids.

Only eighteen elements in the periodic table are generally considered nonmetals, compared to over eighty metals, but nonmetals make up most of the crust, atmosphere and oceans of the earth. Bulk tissues of living organisms are composed almost entirely of nonmetals. Most nonmetals form monatomic or diatomic molecules in their elemental state, unlike metals which (in their elemental state) do not form molecules at all.

List of nonmetals

The elements generally regarded as nonmetals are:

General properties

There is no rigorous definition for the term "nonmetal" - it covers a general spectrum of behavior. Common properties considered characteristic of a nonmetal include:

Metallization at huge pressures

Nevertheless, even these 20 elements tend to become metallic at large enough pressures (see nearby periodic table at ~300 GPa).

See also

Notes


References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Brown Jr., Theodore L., H. Eugene LeMay, Bruce Edward Bursten, and Julia R. Burdge. 2002. Chemistry: The Central Science. 9th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. ISBN 0130669970.
  • Chang, Raymond. 2006. Chemistry. 9th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering/Math. ISBN 0073221031.
  • Cotton, F. Albert, and Geoffrey Wilkinson. 1980. Advanced Inorganic Chemistry. 4th ed. New York, NY: Wiley. ISBN 0-471-02775-8.
  • Greenwood, N.N., and A. Earnshaw. 1997. Chemistry of the Elements. 2nd ed. Oxford, U.K.; Burlington, MA: Butterworth-Heinemann, Elsevier Science. ISBN 0750633654. Online version available here. Retrieved July 23, 2008.

External links


Periodic tables

Standard table | Vertical table | Table with names | Names and atomic masses (large) | Names and atomic masses (small) | Names and atomic masses (text only) | Inline F-block | Elements to 218 | Electron configurations | Metals and non metals | Table by blocks | List of elements by name
Groups:   1 -  2 -  3 -  4 -  5 -  6 -  7 -  8 -  9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18
Periods:  1  -  2  -  3  -  4  -  5  -  6  -  7  -  8
Series:   Alkalis  -  Alkaline earths  -  Lanthanides  -  Actinides  -  Transition metals  -  Poor metals  -  Metalloids  -  Nonmetals  -  Halogens  -  Noble gases
Blocks:  s-block  -  p-block  -  d-block  -  f-block  -  g-block

Credits

New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list of acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions by wikipedians is accessible to researchers here:

The history of this article since it was imported to New World Encyclopedia:

Note: Some restrictions may apply to use of individual images which are separately licensed.

Retrieved from https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/p/index.php?title=Nonmetal&oldid=768972

Content is available under Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License; additional terms may apply. See Terms of Use for details.
Copyright Logo
Powered by MediaWiki