Every object around us can be categorized into two types of elements: metals or non-

metals. Your books, clothes, pencil, water bottle, bag, table, the door are all examples of
non-metals. Therefore, it is important to know the properties of Metals and Non-Metals
and how to distinguish between them.

The Periodic Table

The periodic table comprises an arrangement of elements based on certain chemical
properties that they exhibit. The metals are arranged on the left side and the non-
metals on the right side of the periodic table. The rows of the table are called periods
and columns are called groups. There is a total of 92 elements that are known to be
found naturally, out of which 70 are metals and 22 are non-metals.

Metals
In the above depiction of the periodic table, most of the elements are metals. There are
various kinds of metals:
  Alkaline earth metals

 Alkali metals

 Transition metals

 Actinides, and

 Lanthanides

Metals which are placed on the left-hand side of the periodic table are separated from
non-metals by a zigzag line that starts from Carbon (C) and runs down Phosphorus (P),
Selenium (Se), Iodine (I), till Radon (Rn). Therefore, these chemical elements and
everything on their right is non-metal and the row just to their left is known as semi-
metals or metalloids. They have properties that are common to both metals and non-
metals.

Physical Properties
 Metals occur in the solid state. All metals are solid except with an exception for
mercury which is in liquid state in its natural form.

 Metals are malleable in nature. They can be beaten into thin sheets. For
example, elements such as aluminium, gold, and silver can be beaten into thin
sheets for common usage purpose.

 Metals are ductile. This means that metals can be stretched into thin wires. We
can make copper wires and aluminium wires. All metals are equally ductile. Only
that some metals are more ductile than others for which they are used for day to
day purposes.
  Metals conduct heat and electricity. It is by virtue of this property of metals that
heat, and electricity can pass through them. Every metal is a good conductor of
heat and electricity.

Note: Silver is the best conductor of heat and electricity, copper is also a good
conductor. The worst conductor of heat is lead whereas Iron and mercury are
poor conductors of electricity.

 Metals are shiny. It is due to this property of metals that they are lustrous, and
they reflect the light incident on its surface. Also, metals can be polished, and
this is one of the reasons why metals are used to make jewellery and desired by
women and men alike.

 Metals are very strong and hard, exceptions being sodium and potassium. They
can be cut with a knife.

 Metals are also known to be heavy.

 Metals are also sonorous. They produce a sound when they are rung or hit with
any object.

 Metals have a high melting point and a high boiling point.

 Metals have high density.

 Metals in the form of objects are opaque and are never transparent or
translucent.

Chemical Properties
 Metals easily corrode very easily and fast.

 Metals lose electrons easily. Their outer shell has 1, 2 or 3 electrons.

 Most metals form metal oxides when they come in contact with the oxygen.

 Metals have low electro-negativities, they are electropositive elements.

 Metals are also good reducing agents.

Non-Metals
The non-metal elements are those that do not possess the properties of metals. The
number of non-metals on the periodic table is very less as compared to metals. Non-
metals are positioned on the right side of the periodic table. Some examples of the non-
metals are hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, oxygen, sulphur, selenium, all the
halogens, and the noble gases.

(Image to be added soon)          (Image to be added soon)

Physical Properties
 Non-metals are brittle and break into pieces when beaten. Example: Sulphur and
phosphorus.

 Non-metals are not ductile so, they cannot be made into thin wires.

 Non-metals are insulators or poor conductors of electricity and heat because

they do not lose electrons to transmit the energy.

 At room temperature, they can be in the state of solids, liquids or gases.

 They are non-sonorous.

 They can be transparent.

Chemical Properties
 Non-metals generally have somewhere around 4 to 8 electrons in the outer shell.

 Non-metals tend to gain or accept valence electrons.

 When they are exposed to oxygen, non-metals react with oxygen to form acidic
oxides.

 Non-metals have high electro-negativity; they are electro-negative elements.

 Non-metal elements are good oxidizing agents.

 These elements do not react with water.

Comparison of Physical Properties of Metals and Non-metals

Property Type Metals Non-metals

Solid at room temperature.

Exist as solids and gases,
Physical State Exception being mercury and
exception being bromine.
gallium.

Density Highly dense Low.

High melting point and boiling Low melting point and boiling
Melting and
point Exception being gallium point. Exception being diamond
boiling points
and caesium. and graphite.

Malleability and malleable and ductile not malleable or ductile.

Ductility

Poor/ bad conductors of heat

Conductivity Conducts heat and electricity and electricity exception being
graphite.

They have no lustre except for

Lustre Shining lustre
iodine.

Sonorous sound Sonorous. Non-sonorous.

Generally hard exception being

Hardness Generally soft except diamond
Na, K

Comparison of Chemical Properties of Metals and Non-metals

Reaction
Metals Non-metals
type

Non-metals cannot give

Metals on reacting with water form metal electrons to hydrogen in
Reaction
oxides or metal hydroxides and release H2 water to be released as
with H2O
gas. H2 gas. Non-metals have
no reaction with water.

Metals react with oxygen to form basic Non-metals react with

oxides. Zn and Al form amphoteric oxides oxygen to form oxides.
Reaction which show the properties of both acidic Non- metal oxides are
with O2 and basic oxides. Mostly, metal oxides are soluble in water. They
insoluble in water. Some of them dissolve dissolve in water to form
to form alkali. acids.

No reaction with acids

Metals react with acid to form salt and
occurs to release H2 gas.
Reaction release hydrogen.When metals react with
Non-metals don’t lose
with acids HNO3, H2 is not released. HNO3 is strong
electrons to give it to
oxidizing agent.
hydrogen ions of acids.
 Here, more reactive non-
Reaction When metals react with salt solution, more
metals displace less
with salt reactive metals displace less reactive
reactive non-metals from
solutions metals from its salt solution.
its salt solution.

Non-metals react with

chlorine to form non-
Reaction Metals react with chlorine to form metal
metal chloride. It forms a
with chloride. It is an ionic bond.What we get is
covalent bond. What we
chlorine an ionic compound
get is a co-valent
compound.

Non-metals react with

Reaction Only highly reactive metals react with
hydrogen to give
with H2 hydrogen to form metal hydride.
hydrides.

Table of reactivity series shows order in which the metals are arranged based on their
comparative reactivity.

Steps Involved in The Extraction of Metals From The Ore

Calcination and Roasting

Calcination Roasting

In this process, sulphur ore is heated in

In this process, ores are heated in the
the presence of oxygen. Metal oxide is
absence of oxygen where metal oxide is
formed and SO2 gas releases.It is done
formed and CO2 releases.It is done for
for sulphide ores.ZnS+ 3O2 heat 3ZnO+
carbonate oresCaCO3 → CaO + CO2(g)
SO2
HALOGENS
The elements that are present in group 17 are fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and
astatine. They are called halogens as they react with metals to give salts.

Electronic Configuration 

The electronic configuration of the outermost shell of the elements of group 17 is ns 2

and np5. Therefore there are 7 electrons in the outermost shell.
There are 7 electrons in the outermost shell of the elements belonging to group 17. The
outermost shell is short by one electron to achieve an octet. These elements require
one more electron to achieve an octet or ideal gas configuration.
Halogens are the most reactive non-metals. This is due to their tendency to pick up or
share an electron to achieve an octet or closest inert gas configuration.
 
Occurrence 
Halogens do not exist in their free state. Halogens exist in all three different states of
matter.
Astatine is radioactive in nature and exists in a solid state at room temperature.
Fluorine is the 13th richest element by weight in the crust of the world. It exists in the
gaseous state in room temperature. It usually exists as insoluble fluorides, cryolites,
fluorspar, and fluorapatite. Fluorine is also found in the soil, plants of stream water and
bones and teeth of creatures. Chlorine is the 20th richest element found by weight in
the Earth's crust. It exists in its gaseous state at room temperature. Water in the ocean
comprises of 1.5% by weight of sodium chloride. The dry bed of the ocean contains
sodium chloride. Iodine exists as solid at room temperature. Chlorine, bromine, and
iodine are present in the ocean water as chlorides, bromides, and iodides. Bromine
exists as a liquid at room temperature.
 
Atomic Properties 
The atomic properties of group 17 which are going to be discussed are:
1) Ionic and atomic radii
2) Ionization enthalpy
3) Electron gain enthalpy
4) Electronegativity
 
Trends in Atomic and Ionic Radii 
Atomic radii are the measure of the distance from the center of an atom to the
outermost shell containing electrons. Ionic radii are the measure of the size of an
atom's ion.
As we go down the group, the atomic and the ionic radii tend to increase as an extra
energy shell is added. The reason the elements belonging to this group have smaller
atomic radii compared to other elements is because of high atomic charge.
 
Ionization Enthalpy 
The energy required to remove an electron from its valence shell is known as ionization
energy. As we move down group 17, the ionization energy decreases. This is because as
we move down the group the size of the atom increase which decreases the attraction
of the valence electrons and the valence electrons therefore only little ionization energy
is required to remove an electron from the valence shell from any halogens. The
ionization energy of fluorine is comparatively higher than any other halogen which is
due to its small size because of which greater will be the attraction between the core
and the valence shell. There higher the ionization energy.
 
Electron Gain Enthalpy 
Electron Gain
KJ mol⁻¹
Enthalpy

F -333

CI -348

Br -324

I -295
 
The energy released when an electron is added to an isolated gaseous atom is known
as electron gain enthalpy. Halogens have negative electron gain enthalpy. However, on
moving down the group the electron gain enthalpy turns out to be less negative.
Exception: chlorine has a higher gain of enthalpy when compared to fluorine. This is
attributed to the small size of fluorine due to which there is higher inter-electronic
repulsion in the small 2p orbitals and lesser attraction for the incoming electron.
chlorine has more negative electron pick up enthalpy than fluorine. I.e. among all,
chlorine has the most extreme negative electron pick up enthalpy. It is a result of the
small size and reduced 2p sub-shell of the fluorine atom. Attributable to the small size
of the fluorine particle, the approaching electron encounters a more noteworthy
measure of repulsion from the electrons that are now present. 
 
Electronegativity
The tendency of an atom to attract electron or a bonding pair of electrons is known as
electronegativity. Halogens have high electronegativity. The electronegativity decreases
as we move down group 17 because of the increase in nuclear radii. In group 17,
fluorine is the most electronegative element.
 
Physical Properties 
The physical properties of elements include:
1) Physical state
2) Color
3) Solubility
4) Metallic character
5) Density
6) Melting and boiling point
7) Bond dissociation energy
 
1. Physical State 
Fluorine and chlorine are present in the gaseous state. Bromine is present in the liquid
state. Iodine is present in a solid state. All of these elements exist as diatoms.
 
2. Color 
The elements of group 17 exhibit different colors.
Fluorine has a pale yellow color. Chlorine has a greenish yellow color. Bromine has a
reddish brown color. Iodine has a dark violet color.
 
3. Solubility 
Fluorine and chlorine are soluble in water. Bromine and iodine dissolve in organic
solvents.
 
Haloge
Color in water Organic Solvent
n

Fluorine Per Yellow Yellow

Chlorine Greenish Yellow Green

Bromine Reddish Brown Brown

Iodine Brown Purple

Astatine
 
Haloge
Density
n

Fluorine 0.0017

Chlorine 0.0032

Bromine 3.1028

Iodine 4.933

Astatine
 
4. Metallic Nature
As we move down the group the metallic nature of the elements increases. These
elements are nonmetallic in nature due to high ionization enthalpy.
 
5. Density 
As molecular weight increases down the group, the density decreases.
 
6. Melting and Boiling Points 
As we move down the group, the melting and boiling point increases. This is because as
we go down the group the size of the atoms increases, therefore, the vander walls force
of attraction also increases.
 
7. Bond Dissociation Energy 
Bond dissociation energy is the energy required to break the bond into atoms, each
with one electron of the original shared pair. The bond dissociation energy decreases as
we go down the group except for fluorine. Fluorine has low bond dissociation energy
due to its small atomic radius.
 
8. Oxidation States 
The general electronic configuration of group 17 is: ns2np5
All the elements of group 17 have 7 electrons in its valence shell. These elements
require one electron to finish their octet. They can complete their octet either by picking
up an electron or sharing an electron. The oxidation states of all the elements belonging
to this group are -1.
Except for fluorine, bromine chlorine and iodine have free d-orbital in their valence
shells. Due to this, they display different oxidation states like +1, +3, +5, +7 along with -1.
These positive oxidation states are oxoacids, interhalogens, and oxides.
 
Chemical Properties 
1. Oxidizing Power  
Halogens are great oxidizing agents. Fluorine can oxidize all halide particles to halogen
in a solution. However, oxidizing power decreases as we move down the group.
Chlorine can oxidize bromide to bromine and iodide to iodine.
Cl₂ + 2Br¯ → Br₂ + 2Cl¯
Cl₂ + 2I¯ → I₂ + 2Cl¯
Bromine can oxidize iodide to iodine.
Br₂ + 2I¯ → I + 2Br¯

Cl₂ (aq) Br₂ (aq) I₂ (aq)

Cl– Remains as a yellow Remains as a brown

(aq) solution (no reaction) solution (no reaction)

Yellow solution forms (Br₂

Br– Remains as a brown
forms)Cl₂ + 2 Br- → 2 Cl- +
(aq) solution (no reaction)
Br₂

Brown solution forms (I₂

I– Brown solution forms (I2
forms)Br₂ + 2 I- →2 Br- +
(aq) forms)Cl₂ + 2 I- → 2 Cl- + I₂
I₂
 
Halide particles can also act as reducing agents. The reducing power decreases as we
move down the group.
 
2. Reaction with Hydrogen 
Acidic hydrogen halides are formed when halides react with hydrogen. The reactivity of
halogen towards halogen decreases as we move down group 17. Therefore, their acidity
also decreases as we move down the group.
In dark
H₂ + F₂→ 2HF
In sunlight
H₂ + Cl₂ → 2HCl
Δ
H + Br₂ → 2HBr
Δ
H₂ + I₂ → 2HI
 
3. Reaction with Oxygen
Halogen combines with oxygen to form halogen oxides, but they are not steady. The
general formula for oxides is X₂O to X₂O₇ .
 
4. Reaction with Metals 
Halogens react with metals instantly due to their high reactivity to form metal halides.
Sodium reacts with chlorine to form sodium chloride which releases a large amount of
heat energy and yellow light as it is an exothermic reaction.
2Na(s) + Cl₂ (g) → 2NaCl(s)
Metal halides are ionic in nature due to the high electronegativity of halogen and electro
positivity of metals. The ionic character decreases down the group.
 
5. Reaction with Other Halogens
Halogens form interhalogens when the react with other halogens. The general formula
of interhalogens is XYn, where n = 1, 3, 5 or 7. Here X is the less electronegative halogen
and Y is the more electronegative halogen.
 
XY XY₃ XY₅ XY₇ 

ClF, BrF, BrCl, ICI, IBr, CIF₃, BrF₃, IF₃, BrF

IF₇
IF ICI₃ ₅
 
Anomalous Behaviour of Fluorine 
Fluorine illustrates anomalous behavior in properties such as bond dissociation energy,
ionization energy, electrode potentials, electro-negativity, electron gain enthalpy, ionic
and covalent radii, melting point, and boiling point because of its low bond dissociation
energy, small nuclear size. high electronegativity and absence of d-orbital in the valence
shell of fluorine.
 
Applications of Halogens 
1. Fluorine 

 Fluorine is used in drinking water and toothpaste as it reduces tooth decay

 It is present in the clay used in ceramics
 They are present in chlorofluorocarbons that are used as refrigerants
 They are used to generate nuclear power
 
2. Chlorine

 Chlorine is used to purify drinking water and swimming pools

 It is present in PVC (wire insulation
 It is used to sterilize hospital machinery
 It is also a key factor of certain pesticides like DDT
(dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane)
 
3. Bromine

 Bromine has fire resistant properties, so it is used to retard flames like a fire
extinguisher
 It is used to treat pneumonia and Alzheimer's disease.
  Methyl bromide is a pesticide that is used to eliminate the spread of bacteria and
allows for crop storage
 
4. Iodine

 It has a major role in the functioning of the thyroid gland of our body
 Solutions used to clean open wounds contain iodine
 Silver iodide is used in photography
 
5. Astatine

 Astatine is radioactive
 It has helped in the study of cancer

Noble Gases

Do you know it's helium gas that is filled in the balloons we used to play with? Helium is
a noble gas but its properties are quite different from the properties of other noble
gases. Group 18 elements consist of the noble gases which were not known at the time
of Mendeleev and so were not added to the Mendeleev's periodic table but later after
the discovery of helium and argon in the periodic table Ramsay in 1896 suggested a
new group for such noble gases.

The new group formed was known as zero group having 6 elements in it. These
elements came to be known as noble gases, inert gases, the zero group elements or the
group 18 elements.

We can define noble gases as those monoatomic gases whose chemical reactivity is very
low. So let's get started with the characteristics of group 18 elements.

Characteristics Of Group 18 Elements 

General Characteristics Of Noble Gases

 Group 18 elements are known as noble or inert gases. They are called inert
because they do not take part in any chemical reaction and so we can say that
they are chemically inert.

 All the elements of group 18 i.e. Helium (He), Neon(Ne), Argon(Ar), Krypton(Kr),
Xenon(Xe), Radon(Rn), Organesson(Og) are non-metallic elements.

 The zero group occupies the intermediate position between the strong
electronegative elements of VIIA and strong electropositive elements of IA
groups in the periodic table and this they act as a bridge.
  In the long form of the periodic table, the noble gases are in group 18 which is
placed in the extreme right of the table.

 All the members of the 18th group posses 8 electrons in their outermost shell.

Electronic Configuration of Zero Group Elements

Zero Group Elements  Electronic Configuration

He ...1s2

Ne ...2s2, 2p6

Ar ...3s2, 3p6

Kr ...3d10, 4s2, 4p6

Xe ...4d10, 5s2, 5p6

Rn ...4f14, 5d10, 6s2, 6p6

Og ...5f14, 6d10, 7s2, 7p6

Characteristics of Noble Gases

 All the gases except for helium possess ns 2, np6 configuration. Except for helium,
the differentiating electron enters into p-subshell and thus, these all are included
in p-block elements.

 All the noble gases except helium which has 1s2 configuration, a completely filled
1st shell have their outermost shell with a complete octet.

 Their outer shell configuration is:

He: 1s2

Rest all:  ns2 np6

 These elements also called noble gases to have no tendency to lose or gain
electrons because of completely filled outer shell or stable configuration and so
usually under normal conditions do not participate in chemical reactions.

 Under ordinary conditions of temperature and pressure, all of these group 18

elements are gases. Out of all these noble gases, Rn and Og are radioactive rest
all are present in the atmosphere in very minute quantities.

 These were named rare gases because their presence in the atmosphere is very
minute.
 These were named as inert gases because they do not participate in any
chemical reactions.

These were named as noble gases however, a number of xenon compounds and
two Krypton fluorides were prepared.

 All of them are monoatomic gases.

These were some of the characteristics of inert gases. Let's now look at some physical
characteristics of noble gases.

Physical Characteristics Of Noble Gases

 These gases are colourless, tasteless and odourless.

 The Van der Waals forces between the particles of these elements is weak and it
becomes stronger as we move down the group. This is because there is an
expansion in the polarising capacity of the molecules.

 They have a stable nature and so in free state, these are monoatomic gases.

 The boiling and melting points of noble gases is low. The weak Van der Waals
forced is the reason behind low melting and boiling point of these gases
However these increase as we move down the group.

 These elements can be condensed at very low temperatures. Ease of liquefaction

increases down the group as the size of the atom increases.

 These are slightly soluble in water. From He to Rn solubility increases.

  In their respective periods, the atomic radii of the noble gases are the largest.

 Because the electronic configuration is stable the ionization enthalpies of these

noble gases are the highest in their respective periods.

 The order of electron gain enthalpy of these group 18 elements is such :

Ne>Ar=Kr>Xe>Rn>He

This was all about, noble gases share which characteristics now let's have a look at
some other aspects of the noble gases.

Out of all the noble gases, helium is of great importance in the industrial markets,
chemical use and also in our day to day lives. Let's look at some important uses of
helium.

Uses Of Helium
 Oxygen cylinders used underwater for proper breathing has helium as its major
component.

 Helium can be used as a cooling gas in gas-cooled atomic reactors.

 Helium can be used as a streaming gas in gas-fluid chromatography.

 In Cryoscopy helium is used for the superconductivity.

 Air balloons are filled with helium. It is also used in the aircraft because it has a
very low density and is flammable.

 To perform tests at very low-temperature fluid helium is used as the cryogenic

agent because of its very low boiling point.