The Periodic Table

Vocabulary Malleable-A term used to describe material that can be hammered or rolled into shape. Ductile-A term used to describe a material that can be pulled out into a long wire. Conductor-A substance that transmits heat or electricity easily. Magnetic-a characteristic of those metals that are attracted to magnets and can be made into magnets Reactivity-The case and speed with which an element or compound combines with other elements and compounds. Corrosion-The gradual wearing away of a metal element due to a chemical reaction. Alloy-A mixture of two or more metals. Nonmetal-An element that lacks most of the properties of metals. Semiconductor-An element that can conduct electricity under some conditions. Metalloid-An element that has some of the characteristics of metals and some of the characteristics of nonmetals.

Periodic Table

Element Classification

Physical Properties of Metal Most metals are solid at room temperature. Mercury is a liquid at room temperature.

Conductivity Most metals conduct heat and electricity very easily. Copper is used for both extensively.

Magnetic Several metals are attracted to magnets. Iron (Fe), Cobalt (Co) and Nickel (Ni) are magnetic.

Malleability and Ductility Malleable- Most metals can be hammered or rolled into shape. Ductile-Most metals can be pulled into long wire.

Luster/Shine Metals are often lustrous. Nonmetals tend to be dull.

Reactivity Sodium and Potassium react with air and water explosively. Gold and Chromium are unreactive. Most metals oxidize over time.

Alloys Brass- Mixture of Copper and Zinc. Bronze- Mixture of Copper and Tin. Steel- Mixture of Iron, Carbon, Chromium, and Vanadium.

Nonmetals The properties of nonmetals are the opposite of metals.

Physical Properties

Metalloids Silicon, for example, possesses a metallic luster, yet it is an inefficient conductor and is brittle. The reactivity of the metalloids depends on the element with which they are reacting. For example, boron acts as a nonmetal when reacting with sodium yet as a metal when reacting with fluorine. The boiling points, melting points, and densities of the metalloids vary widely. The intermediate conductivity of metalloids means they tend to make good semiconductors.