What are Non-Metals?

Elements that lack the attributes of metals are called non-metals.

Non-metals are good insulators of heat and electricity. They are mostly gases and liquids. Some non-metals are solid at room temperature. E.g. Carbon, sulphur and phosphorus. 

Some common non-metals are shown in the image below.

Physical Properties of Non-Metals

The various physical properties of the non-metal are,

• Non-metals are poor conductors of heat and electricity. A notable exception is “Graphite” which is a good conductor of heat and electricity.
• Non-metal are not ductile in nature except for the carbon nanotube which is ductile in nature.
• Non-metal are not malleable and they are brittle i.e. they break when hit by a hammer or when force is applied.
• Non-metal are not lustrous as they do not have any shiny appearance.
• Non-metals don’t produce a deep ringing sound when they are hit with another material. Thus, they are not sonorous.

Chemical Properties of Non-metals

Non-metals have various chemical properties some of the properties of non-metals are listed below.

• Non-Metals are more reactive than metals.
• Non-Metals react with oxygen to form acidic oxide.
• Non-metals react with other non-metals at high temperatures

Uses and Applications of Non-Metals

Various uses and applications of non-metals are,

• Daily Life: The respiration process is aided by oxygen, which is 21 % by volume. It’s also utilised to make steel and maintain a high temperature during the metal fabrication process. In the hospital, oxygen cylinders are used. As a bleaching chemical, chlorine is effective in eliminating stains and colour patches. Chlorine is used to make a variety of polymers and pesticides. It aids with water filtration. How? Bacteria are killed when chlorine is added to drinking water. For scientific experiments, helium is employed as an inert gas. Weather balloons use it as well. Iodine is used as an antiseptic in the treatment of wounds and cuts, as well as in the treatment of throat infections.
• Fertilizers: Nitrogen is found in fertilizers. It aids in the growth of plants. It boosts the plant’s growth rate. Plants can also benefit from non-metallic phosphorus. These two nonmetals are essential for plant growth.
• Crackers: Sulphur and phosphorus are used in fireworks.

All the elements around us are categorised into three categories metals, non-metals and metalloids. Thus we can say that all the elements in the periodic table are divided into these three categories. Metals and Non-metals are two types of substances that may be distinguished by their physical and chemical characteristics. Metals are elements that are typically hard due to the presence of a strong metallic connection between the atoms. Non-metals, on the other hand, are generally soft in nature. 

Metals are defined as elements that have one, two, or three electrons in their valence shell. Non-metals are elements containing 4, 5, 6, or 7 electrons in their outermost shell.

Let’s learn about metals, non-metals, their properties and differences in this article.