Comparing Metals and Nonmetals

Front

Delocalized Electrons Noun

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[dee-loh-kuh-lahyzd ih-lek-trons]

Back

Delocalized Electrons

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Electrons in a metal that are not bound to any single atom and are free to move throughout the metallic crystal.

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Example: This diagram shows how in a metal, positive ions are held in a fixed lattice while their outer electrons are free to move around them.

Front

Cation Noun

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[kat-ahy-on]

Back

Cation

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A positively charged ion, formed in metals when an atom loses its loosely held valence electrons.

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Example: This diagram shows a sodium ion (Na+), which is a cation. Metals like sodium lose electrons to form positively charged ions called cations.

Front

Ductility Noun

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[duhk-til-i-tee]

Back

Ductility

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The ability of a material, particularly a metal, to be drawn into thin wires without breaking or fracturing.

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Example: This image shows that a metal like copper can be drawn into a thin wire, which demonstrates the property of ductility.

Front

Malleability Noun

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[mal-ee-uh-bil-i-tee]

Back

Malleability

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The ability of a material, particularly a metal, to be hammered or pressed into different shapes without breaking.

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Example: This image shows that a metal like gold is malleable because it can be hammered into a thin sheet, while a non-metal like glass is brittle and shatters.

Front

Thermal Conductivity Noun

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[thur-muhl kon-duhk-tiv-i-tee]

Back

Thermal Conductivity

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A material's ability to conduct or transfer heat energy, often facilitated by mobile electrons in metals.

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Example: Heating one end of a metal rod causes thermal energy to travel along the rod to the cooler end, demonstrating how well the material conducts heat.

Front

Electrical Conductivity Noun

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[ih-lek-tri-kuhl kon-duhk-tiv-i-tee]

Back

Electrical Conductivity

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A material's ability to conduct an electric current, which is the flow of charged particles like electrons.

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Example: This image compares materials that conduct electricity, like metals (copper, steel), with materials that do not, like nonmetals (wood, plastic), to explain electrical conductivity.

Front

Luster Noun

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[luhs-ter]

Back

Luster

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The shiny appearance of a material's surface, caused by the way it interacts with and reflects light.

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Example: This image shows shiny gold bars. The way light reflects off the surface, creating a shine, is called luster, a common property of metals.

Front

Crystalline Solid Noun

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[kris-tl-in sol-id]

Back

Crystalline Solid

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A solid material whose constituent atoms are arranged in a highly ordered, repeating three-dimensional pattern called a lattice.

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Example: This diagram shows the ordered, repeating 3D pattern of sodium (metal) and chloride (nonmetal) ions in a sodium chloride (salt) crystal.

Front

Body-centered cubic (BCC) Noun

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[bod-ee sen-terd kyoo-bik]

Back

Body-centered cubic (BCC)

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A crystal structure in which each atom has eight neighbors, resulting in a less closely packed and less ductile arrangement.

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Example: This diagram shows a body-centered cubic (BCC) structure, a common way atoms in metals are arranged, with one atom at the center of a cube.

Front

Face-centered cubic (FCC) Noun

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[feys sen-terd kyoo-bik]

Back

Face-centered cubic (FCC)

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A crystal structure where each atom has twelve neighbors, resulting in a tightly-packed arrangement that is typically very ductile.

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Example: This diagram shows the face-centered cubic arrangement of atoms, with one atom at each corner and one in the center of each of the six faces.