Metals, Nonmetals, and Metalloids

Front

Metals Noun

---

[met-uhls]

Back

Metals

---

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

---

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.

Front

Nonmetals Noun

---

[non-met-uhls]

Back

Nonmetals

---

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

---

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

Front

Metalloids Noun

---

[met-uh-loidz]

Back

Metalloids

---

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

---

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

Front

Physical Property Noun

---

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

Back

Physical Property

---

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

---

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.

Front

Lustre Noun

---

[luhs-ter]

Back

Lustre

---

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

---

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.

Front

Malleability Noun

---

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

Back

Malleability

---

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

---

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.

Front

Ductility Noun

---

[duhk-til-i-tee]

Back

Ductility

---

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

---

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.

Front

Conductivity Noun

---

[kon-duhk-tiv-i-tee]

Back

Conductivity

---

The measure of a material's ability to conduct or transmit energy, such as heat or an electrical current.

---

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

Front

Density Noun

---

[den-si-tee]

Back

Density

---

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

---

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).

Front

Melting Point Noun

---

[melt-ing point]

Back

Melting Point

---

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

---

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.