Metals, Nonmetals, and Metalloids

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Element Noun

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[el-uh-muhnt]

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Element

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A pure substance consisting of atoms with the same number of protons, organized by properties on the Periodic Table.

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Example: This diagram shows a model of an oxygen atom, an example of an element. All atoms of the element oxygen have 8 protons in their nucleus.

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Groups Noun

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[groops]

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Groups

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The vertical columns on the Periodic Table, containing elements with similar chemical and physical properties.

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Example: This diagram shows the periodic table, where the vertical columns are called "Groups." Elements in the same group, like the Alkali Metals in Group 1, share similar chemical properties.

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Periods Noun

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[peer-ee-uhds]

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Periods

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The horizontal rows on the Periodic Table, across which the properties of elements change in a consistent pattern.

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Example: This diagram shows the periodic table, where the horizontal rows, labeled 1 through 7 as 'PERIODS', organize elements by their number of electron shells.

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Metalloid Noun

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[met-l-oid]

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Metalloid

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A chemical element that exhibits some properties of metals and some of nonmetals, located along the periodic table's staircase.

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Example: This image shows the periodic table and highlights the specific elements, like Boron and Silicon, that are metalloids, located along a stair-step line.

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Luster Noun

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[luhs-ter]

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Luster

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A physical property describing the shiny or lustrous appearance of a substance, which is a characteristic of metals.

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Example: This image shows shiny gold bars, a type of metal. The way light reflects off their surface, making them appear shiny, is called luster.

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Ductile Adjective

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[duhk-til]

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Ductile

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A physical property of a material, typically a metal, that allows it to be stretched into thin wires.

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Example: This image shows copper wires, a common metal. Ductility is the property that allows metals like copper to be stretched or drawn into thin wires without breaking.

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Malleable Adjective

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[mal-ee-uh-buhl]

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Malleable

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A physical property of a material that allows it to be pounded, rolled, or hammered into thin sheets.

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Example: This image shows that malleable materials, like the metal gold, can be hammered into thin sheets without breaking, which demonstrates the property of malleability.

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Corrosion Noun

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[kuh-roh-zhuhn]

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Corrosion

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A chemical process that results in the gradual destruction of a metal due to its reaction with the environment.

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Example: This diagram shows corrosion by illustrating what happens when a metal, iron powder, reacts with an acid, causing it to break down and release gas.

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Ion Noun

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[ahy-on]

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Ion

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An atom or molecule that has gained or lost one or more electrons, resulting in a net electrical charge.

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Example: This image shows a neutral sodium atom (Na) with equal protons and electrons, then shows it losing an electron to become a positively charged sodium ion (Na+).

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Cation Noun

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[kat-ahy-on]

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Cation

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A positively charged ion that is formed when an atom, typically a metal, loses one or more electrons.

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Example: A neutral sodium atom loses its single valence electron, resulting in a sodium cation with a full outer shell and a positive charge.