SECTION 2:

METALS,
NONMETALS,
AND
METALLOIDS
Chapter 19: Elements and their
Properties
LEARNING GOALS
Describe the properties of typical
metals, nonmetals, and metalloids.
PROPERTIES OF METALS
Metals can be found to the left of the
“staircase” on the periodic table.
Almost all solid
Mercury (Hg) is the exception!
Good conductors of heat and electricity
They reflect light (shiny, luster)
PROPERTIES OF METALS
Malleable: they can be hammered or
rolled into sheets
Ductile: they can be drawn into wires
PROPERTIES OF METALS
The atoms of metals generally have 1-
3 valence electrons.
In chemical reactions, metals tend to
give up electrons easily.
When metals combine with nonmetals,
the atoms tend to lose electrons to the
atoms of nonmetals, forming ionic
bonds.
PROPERTIES OF METALS
Metallic bonding: positively charged
metallic ions are surrounded by a
cloud of electrons.
The outer-level electrons are not tightly
held to the nucleus and can move freely
among the charged ions.
PROPERTIES OF
NONMETALS
 Nonmetals: elements that usually are
gases or brittle solids at room
temperature.
The solids break easily (brittle) and are
not malleable or ductile.
Most nonmetals do not conduct heat
or electricity well and are not shiny.
PROPERTIES OF
NONMETALS
 The electrons of nonmetals are
strongly attracted to the nucleus of
the atom.
They can form ionic bonds, in which
they gain electrons from metals.
They can also form covalent bonds, in
which they share electrons with other
nonmetals.
PROPERTIES OF
NONMETALS
 About 90% of all atoms in the
universe are hydrogen atoms!
Hydrogen is a diatomic molecule:
Consists of two atoms of the same
element in a covalent bond.
H2

N2, O2, F2, Cl2, Br2, I2

PROPERTIES OF
METALLOIDS
 Metalloids can form ionic and
covalent bonds with other elements
and can have both metallic and
nonmetallic properties.
Some metalloids can conduct
electricity better than most
nonmetals, but not as well as metals.
PROPERTIES OF
METALLOIDS
 Metalloids can also be called
semiconductors:
Semiconductors: elements than
conduct an electric current under
certain conditions.