Nonmetals
Definition and meaning of Nonmetals in chemistry.
Nonmetals are elements that characteristically lack metallic properties such as electrical conductivity, malleability, and luster. They are located mainly on the right side of the periodic table and typically form ionic bonds by gaining electrons from metals or covalent bonds by sharing electrons with other nonmetals.
In more detail
Nonmetals include gases like oxygen and nitrogen, liquids like bromine, and solids like carbon and sulfur. They are generally poor conductors of heat and electricity, though graphite, a form of carbon, is a notable exception for electrical conductivity. Nonmetals have high ionization energies, making it energetically unfavorable for them to lose electrons and form cations. This category includes hydrogen, carbon, the halogens, and the noble gases, along with select members of the chalcogen group (such as oxygen and sulfur) and the pnictogen group (such as nitrogen and phosphorus); not every element in those groups qualifies, since some (like tellurium, antimony, and bismuth) are metalloids or metals.
Key facts
| Field | Inorganic Chemistry |
|---|---|
| Location on periodic table | Mainly the right side, groups 14-18, plus hydrogen (group 1) |
| Common examples | Oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, sulfur, chlorine |
| Conductivity | Poor electrical and thermal conductors (graphite excepted) |
Oxygen and nitrogen are common nonmetals that form the bulk of Earth's atmosphere. They readily form covalent bonds, such as in water (H2O) and ammonia (NH3), and are essential to all biological systems.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a nonmetal and a metalloid?
Nonmetals completely lack metallic properties, while metalloids have intermediate properties between metals and nonmetals, behaving as semiconductors or showing mixed characteristics.
Can nonmetals conduct electricity?
Most nonmetals are poor conductors, but graphite (crystalline carbon) is an excellent electrical conductor due to its delocalized electrons in its sheet structure.