2.

3 Non -Metals
 The elements of life

 Only about twenty elements are not metals, but they are very important.
 Your muscles are mainly made of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, & sulfur.
 The non- metal elements are shown on the right of the stepped line on the periodic table
 Physical properties of non-metals

 Boiling & melting points:

• Compared to metals , most non-metals have low melting &boiling points
• They exist as gases at 20◦C

Neon gas
makes the
helium
balloon
signs
glow
 Physical properties of non-metals

 Solid non-metal elements:

• Few non-metals exist as non-metals like sulfur, carbon, & phosphorous
• Non-metals in the solid state is brittle , which means they break easily , if you hit them with a hammer .
• Most non-metals do not conduct electricity

Sulfur is a typical
non-metal , in solid
state it is dull ,
brittle, does not
conduct electricity
 Solid non-metals

 Carbon
• Very special non-metal , there are several types of solid carbon, in each type there is different arrangement
• This means that each type of carbon has its own physical properties .

 Diamond & graphite are two forms of carbon with different physical properties :
Diamond & graphite

Properties Diamond graphite

Arrangement of particles Crystal pattern layers

hardness hard Soft (brittle)

appearance shiny dull

Conduction of electricity Does not conduct conduct

 Mettaloids

 Computers & cell phones rely on microchips , these electronic circuits are made of tiny
pieces of silicon

Other metalloid
properties Silicon elements like
germanium, boron,
Appearance Shiny , grey solid at 20○C arsenic, antimony.
hardness Brittle

Conduction of electricity Semiconductor [ conduct less than metals

but better than non-metals]
properties Metalloid, semi-metal
 worksheet

 Draw a bar chart to display the melting point data in the table.
Use the axes below.
Element Melting point (ºC) Boiling point (ºC) Is the element a metal or
non-metal?

aluminium 660 2470

chlorine −101 −35
gold 1063 2970
iodine 114 184
iron 1535 3000
neon −249 −246
oxygen −218 −183
unknown element (X) 1900 3000