NON-METALS

BY OSHEA JARRET
List uses of the non- metals: Carbon,
Sulfur, Phosphorus, Chlorine,
Nitrogen, Silicon and
their compounds.
NON-METALS

 Any substance that is not a metal is classified as a non-metal.

These are :
 Non-Metal elements, e.g. chlorine, carbon , sulphur and oxygen
 Non-Metal compounds, e.g. sodium chloride, sulphur dioxide, ammonia and nitric
acid
CARBON
CARBON

Name                                                         Uses
Diamond C                                                 Jewellery, as drill tips, abrasives for
polishing glass and cutting tools

Graphite C                                                  ‘Lead’ pencils, oil paints,

electrodes in electrolysis, brushes in electric

motors and generators

Charcoal C                                                  Gas absorber in gas masks and smokeless fuel

Carbon dioxide CO2                                  ‘Fizzy’ drinks, the refrigerant in form of ‘dry

                                                                     ice’ Free extinguishers and urea manufacture

Carbon tetrachloride CCl4                          Solvent in dry cleaning, fire extinguishers

and manufacture of ‘Freon’ a refrigerant

Sodium carbonate Na2CO3                        Manufacture of glass, sodium hydroxide,

         soap, Detergents and paper

Carbon disulphide CS2                                 Solvent, manufacture of rayon and

cellophane

Sodium hydrogen carbonate                       Baking powder and antacids

NaHCO3
SULPHUR
Sulphur-

Name                                                         Uses
Sulphur                                                     Manufacture of sulphuric acid, gunpowder,
S                                                                 matches, fungicides, pesticides and vulcanized
                                                                   rubber

Sulphur dioxide                                          Bleaching agent for straw, wool, flour and 

SO2                                                            sugar. Preserving fruit and refrigerant  

Calcium hydrogen sulphite                        Manufacture of paper

Ca(HSO3)2       

Sulphuric acid                                           Manufacture of fertilizers, white paint pigments,

                                                                  Rayon, detergents, soaps, dyes, plastics and 
                                                                  explosives. Refining of petroleum oils     
PHOSPHOROS
Phosphorus-

Name                                                         Uses
Phosphorus                                                 Manufacture of safety matches, pyrotechnics,
P                                                                  Incendiary shells, smoke bombs, tracer bullets, 
                                                                    Phosphoric acid, alloy bronzes, and steels.

Phosphoric acid                                          Rustproofing iron and steel. Manufacture of

H3PO4                                                        fertilizers 

Calcium phosphate                           Manufacture of fine chinaware, baking powder 

 Ca3(PO4)2                                               and fertilizers.    

Sodium phosphate                                      Cleaning agent, water softeners, and cheese

Na3PO4                                                      processing. Manufacture of pesticides       
CHLORINE
Chlorine-

Chlorine has a variety of uses.

1.To make rubbers; plastics, e.g. polyvinyl chloride (P.V.C); and solvents, e.g. tetrachloromethane (CCl4).
2.Sterilizing drinking water, swimming pools and sewage
3.Preparation of dry cleaning fluids and bleaching agents
4.Manufacture of hydrochloric acid

Chlorine is commonly used as an antiseptic and is used to make drinking water safe and to treat swimming
pools. Large amounts of chlorine are used in many industrial processes, such as in the production of paper
products, plastics, dyes, textiles, medicines, antiseptics, insecticides, solvents, and paints.

Two of the most familiar chlorine compounds are sodium chloride (NaCl) and hydrogen chloride (HCl). Sodium
chloride, commonly known as table salt, is used to season food and in some industrial processes. Hydrogen
chloride, when mixed with water (H2O), forms hydrochloric acid, a strong and commercially important acid. Other
chlorine compounds include: chloroform (CHCl3), carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), potassium chloride (KCl), lithium
chloride (LiCl), magnesium chloride (MgCl2) and chlorine dioxide (ClO2).
NITROGEN
Nitrogen-

Name                                                         Uses
Nitrogen                                                     Refrigerant, to provide an inert atmosphere for
N2                                                              reactions
                                                                   Manufacture of ammonia

Ammonia                                                   Water purification, cleaning agent, refrigerant.

NH3                                                            Manufacture of fertilizers, nitric acid, nylon 
                                                                    , and rubber

Nitric acid                                                   Manufacture of fertilizers, explosives like TNT 

NHO3                                                         and dynamite and dyes

Ammonium chloride                                 Electrolyte in dry batteries 

NH4CL

Ammonium carbonate                                Smelling salts

(NH4)2CO3

Ammonium nitrate                                      Manufacture of explosives and fertilizers

NH4NO3                                                     

Ammonium sulfate                                     Manufacture of fertilizers

(NH4)2SO4 
SILICON
Silicon-

Name                                                         Uses
Silicon                                                        Semiconductors in transistors, computer chips, 
Si                                                                solar cells and rectifiers

Silica                                                          Gemstones like amethyst, jasper and is used to SiO2                        

                                  manufacture glass

Silicates                                                      Building materials like sandstone, granite.

SiO2-  4                                                      bricks and cement and tiles. Manufacture of 
                                                                   china, paper, cotton, and textiles

Silicones                                                     Resins used to steal motors and transformers, 

SiO2 with organic                       waterproofing fabrics and medical implants.
molecules attached                                  Used in the manufactures of polishes, paints,
                                                                    Rubbers, lubricants, and lacquers
Discuss the harmful effects
of non-metal on living
systems and the
environment.
 
Air pollution is caused by the release of waste gases and particulates into the
atmosphere. These include carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, carbon particles,
Sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and hydrogen sulphide.
Carbon monoxide, CO, is formed from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels.
Exposure to CO can result in death by suffocation, as it prevents the transport of
oxygen around the body. This causes the cells to be starved of oxygen, leading to
dizziness, unconsciousness, and death.
Carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and oxides of nitrogen (NO and NO2) are produced
from the combustion of fossil fuels in power stations, industries, and motor vehicles.
These are acidic gases and readily dissolve in rainwater to form acid rain.
Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides can also combine with smoke and water vapors to form
smog, which affects the respiratory system when inhaled, increasing incidences of asthma and
lung infections. These gases also irritate skin and eyes.
Water pollution is caused by the release of nitrates and phosphates from untreated sewage,
detergents, and fertilizers into water bodies such as lakes, ponds, and rivers. These result in the
rapid growth of plants and algae, which use up dissolved oxygen as they decompose. This
results in oxygen depletion and the death of aquatic organisms. This process is called
eutrophication.