Metals, Nonmetals, and Metalloids

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Metals Noun

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[met-uhls]

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Metals

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A class of elements characterized by physical properties such as luster, conductivity, malleability, and ductility, making up most elements.

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Example: Gold is a common example of a metal, a type of element that is typically shiny (has luster), solid at room temperature, and valuable.

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Nonmetals Noun

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[non-met-uhls]

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Nonmetals

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A class of elements that are typically dull, brittle, and poor conductors of heat and electricity, acting as insulators.

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Example: This periodic table diagram shows that nonmetals (highlighted in yellow) are a group of elements located on the upper right side.

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Metalloids Noun

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[met-uh-loidz]

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Metalloids

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A class of elements with properties intermediate between metals and nonmetals, often functioning as semiconductors in electronic devices.

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Example: This diagram shows the location of metalloids, which form a stair-step line on the periodic table separating metals from nonmetals.

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Physical Property Noun

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[fiz-i-kuhl prop-er-tee]

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Physical Property

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A characteristic of a substance that can be observed or measured without changing the chemical identity of the substance.

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Example: This diagram shows that changing state, like ice melting into water, is a physical property because the substance (water) does not change its chemical identity.

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Lustre Noun

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[luhs-ter]

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Lustre

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The physical property of being shiny and reflecting light from a surface, which is a common characteristic of metals.

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Example: This image shows that lustre is how a mineral's surface reflects light. Some minerals have a shiny, metallic lustre, while others have a dull, non-metallic lustre.

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Malleability Noun

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

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Malleability

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The ability of a solid material to be shaped, hammered, or pressed into thin sheets without breaking or cracking.

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Example: This image contrasts a malleable material (gold), which can be hammered into a sheet, with a brittle material (glass), which shatters, to define malleability.

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Ductility Noun

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[duhk-til-i-tee]

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Ductility

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The ability of a solid material to be stretched or drawn into a thin wire without breaking under tensile stress.

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Example: This diagram shows a material at a starting point being stretched into a long, thin wire at its end point, demonstrating the property of ductility.

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Conductivity Noun

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[kon-duhk-tiv-i-tee]

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Conductivity

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The measure of a material's ability to conduct or transmit energy, such as heat or electricity, through its structure.

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Example: Heat from the flame travels along the rod from the hot end to the cold end, demonstrating how conductive materials transfer thermal energy.

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Density Noun

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[den-si-tee]

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Density

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The physical property of a substance defined as its mass per unit volume, indicating how compact the matter is.

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Example: This diagram shows that in the same amount of space, solids have particles packed tightly together (high density), while gases have particles spread far apart (low density).

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Melting Point Noun

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[mel-ting point]

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Melting Point

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The specific temperature at which a given solid material changes its state from a solid to a liquid form.

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Example: This diagram shows a thermometer in melting ice, reading 0° Celsius. This is the specific temperature, or melting point, at which solid water turns into a liquid.