Properties of Nonmetals

Chapter 4: Section 4

Elements found in families 14-18

Are poor conductors, have reactivity, solid nonmetals are dull, brittle, non-malleable, non-ductile.

Lower densities than metals

Ten out of the 16 are gases at room temperature

Physical properties:

Iodine, sulfur, and carbon are solids at room temperature

Bromine is a liquid at room temperature

Most are reactive and readily form into compounds

Chemical Properties

Fluorine is the most reactive

Usually gain or share electrons

When they gain an electron(s) from a metal it forms an ionic bond

When the share electrons with other nonmetals it forms a covalent bond

The carbon family: column 14

Families of nonmetals

Each element can gain, lose, or share 4 electrons (have 4 valance electrons)

Only carbon is a nonmetal

Carbon is found in all living things

Makes coal, gas, and oil (hydrocarbons)

Nitrogen and phosphorus are the nonmetals

The Nitrogen Family: column 15

Gain or share 3 electrons ( have 5 valance electrons)

Air is 80% Nitrogen Nitrogen does not react readily Diatomic molecules

Element that exists in nature as two atoms

The oxygen family: column 16

Contains oxygen, sulfur, and selenium which are nonmetals

Usually gain or share 2 electrons (have 6 valance electrons)

Oxygen is diatomic and triatomic (ozone-layer in atmosphere which screens out harmful radiation from the sun, is dangerous at ground level due it being highly reactive)

Oxygen reacts readily and is the most abundant element in the earth’s crust, and 2nd most abundant in the atmosphere

The halogen family: Column 17

All but Astatine are nonmetals

Gains or shares one electron (Have 7 valance electrons)

Called salt formers

Very reactive and dangerous to humans

Compounds that they form are very useful

The Noble gases: Column 18

They usually do not form compounds because they usually do not gain, lose, or share electrons. They have 8 electrons in their valance shell-this is a stable configuration

Exist in the earth’s atmosphere

Top of column 1

Has only one proton and electron

Hydrogen

Makes up 90% of the atoms in the universe

Its chemical properties differ very much from those of the other elements, it cannot be grouped into a family

Elements found in families 13-17, boundary between metals and non-metals on the table, forms a staircase

Metalloids (semimetals)

Have characteristics of both metals and nonmetals

All are solids.

Brittle, hard, good and somewhat reactive

Most common is Silicon

Most useful properties is their varying ability to conduct electricity-depends on temperature, exposure to light, and impurities. This is why they are called semiconductors