Question

Write the properties of nonmetals and metalloids.

Answer 1

Nonmetals: Non-metals are the elements that do not conduct heat and electricity and are neither malleable nor ductile.

Examples: $\mathrm{Carbon}\left(\mathrm{C}\right),\mathrm{Sulphur}\left(\mathrm{S}\right),\mathrm{Phosphorus}\left(\mathrm{P}\right),\mathrm{Silicon}\left(\mathrm{S}\right),\mathrm{Oxygen}\left(\mathrm{O}\right),\mathrm{etc}.$

Physical properties of non-metals are:

• Non-metals are brittle. They are neither malleable nor ductile.
• Non-metals are bad conductors of heat and electricity (except graphite).
• Non-metals are non-lustrous (dull) and cannot be polished (except iodine).
• Non-metals may be solids, liquids or gases at room temperature.
• Non-metals are neither tough nor strong.

Chemical Properties of Non-Metals:

1. Reaction with $\mathrm{Water}\left({\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\right)$

• A non-metal does not react with water but it is usually very reactive in air, which is why some of them are stored in water.
• For example, one of the highly reactive non-metals is phosphorus and it catches fire when exposed to air that is why it is stored in water to prevent its contact with atmospheric oxygen

2. Reaction with Acids:

• None of the non-metals is known to react with acids.

3. Reaction with Bases:

• The reaction between non-metals and bases is a very complex one. The reaction of chlorine with bases like sodium hydroxide gives products like$\mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{hypochlorite},\mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{chloride}$ as well as Water.

4. Reaction with Oxygen:

• Oxides of non-metals are formed when it reacts with oxygen. The oxides of non-metals are acidic or neutral in nature.
• When sulphur reacts w
• ith oxygen, we get sulphur dioxide.
• $\underset{\mathrm{Sulphur}}{\mathrm{S}\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Oxygen}}{{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}\to \underset{\mathrm{Sulphur}\mathrm{dioxide}}{{\mathrm{SO}}_2}$

Metalloids:

Metalloids are a small group of elements founds in the periodic table of elements along the zigzag line that distinguishes metals from non-metals and is drawn from between boron and aluminium to the border between polonium and astatine.
Properties of Metalloids:

• Metalloids looks like metals. However, these elements often behave like non-metals.
• Physically, metalloids are brittle, somewhat shiny substances that are usually solid at ambient temperatures.
• These elements usually have intermediate to fairly strong electrical conduction.
• Metalloids have electronic band structures that are similar to semimetals or semiconductors.