Last Updated on March 19, 2022 by QCity Editorial Stuff
In the world of chemistry, there are two main types of materials: metals and nonmetals. Nonmetals do not conduct electricity well, don’t take a good polish, and cannot be hammered into sheets. Metals can be polished easily to a mirror-like finish, they conduct electricity very well because their electrons move freely from one atom to another, and they can be hammered or rolled into sheets.
The differences between metals and nonmetals are as follows: Nonmetals have an incomplete electron shell which prevents them from forming bonds with other atoms as easily as metal atoms do; this makes it difficult for nonmetal molecules to bind together to form solids that have a regular structure like those formed by metal atoms.
Metals are a group of elements that have many similar properties. They are the only element group in which all the members are good conductors of heat and electricity, being malleable, ductile, lustrous, and having a high melting point. Nonmetals have few common properties with metals. Some nonmetals can be found in nature but most must be created synthetically in laboratories or by exploding natural gases. The main difference between metals and nonmetals is their ability to conduct an electric current; while some metals like copper conduct very well, others like aluminum conducts poorly or not at all. Other differences include how easily one metal can replace another when they react chemically with other substances (elements) such as oxygen (O).
Comparison Between Metals And Nonmetals
| Parameters of Comparison | Metals | Nonmetals |
| Melt | Melt and cast into the desired shape | Low melt can not be cast into the desired shape. |
| Shiny | Shiny | dull |
| Conduct | Electricity | Do not conduct electricity |
| React | Most metals react with oxygen, water, and most other substances to form new compounds | Non-metal elements that react with oxygen or water to form new compounds include sulfur |
| Elements | Metals are elements that have a high density | Nonmetals are elements that do not have a high density |
What Are Metals?
Metals are all around us. They are in our cars, buildings, appliances, and even jewelry. It is important to understand what metals are because they play a significant role in our everyday lives. Metals can be found naturally or man-made through chemical reactions. Each metal has properties that make it unique from the other metals on earth. Some of these properties include conductivity, ductility, and malleability which determine how good of a conductor the material is as well as how easily it can be bent without breaking apart. These properties also affect how much heat or cold the metal will tolerate before becoming damaged by them which makes each metal useful for certain things more than others depending on their purpose.
Metals are a type of chemical element that can be found naturally throughout the world. They have been used in a variety of different objects and materials since humans began to develop civilizations. Metals vary considerably depending on their properties, such as conductivity and density. Read this blog post to learn more about metals.
What Are Nonmetals?
Nonmetals are elements that do not have a complete outer shell of electrons. Most metals, on the other hand, have several electrons in their outer shells. This makes them more likely to bond with other atoms and gain or lose electrons as necessary for stability. Nonmetals tend to form covalent bonds by sharing pairs of electrons rather than gaining or losing individual ones. They do not conduct electricity well because they lack free valence electrons that can carry an electrical current through a circuit. Metals typically shine and reflect light while nonmetals absorb it—and most nonmetals are solids at room temperature, although some exist as gases or plasmas under extreme conditions such as high pressure and heat.
10 Differences Between Metals And Nonmetals
1. Metals can be melted and cast into the desired shape.
2. Nonmetals have low melting points so they cannot be cast or shaped.
3. Metals are shiny while nonmetals are dull in appearance.
4. Metals conduct electricity while nonmetals do not.
5. Most metals react with oxygen, water, and most other substances to form new compounds.
6. Non-metal elements that react with oxygen or water to form new compounds include sulfur, phosphorus, chlorine, iodine.
7. Metals are elements that have a high density and can conduct electricity.
8. Nonmetals are elements that do not have a high density and cannot conduct electricity.
9. Metals tend to be shiny, while nonmetals don’t.
10. Metals tend to form ions, which makes them reactive with other substances.
Interesting Statistics Or Facts Of Metals
1. The word metal comes from the Greek word “medallion” which means to melt or cast.
2. Copper is the most common metal found on earth and it’s also one of the most valuable metals in history, with prices reaching $5,000 per pound in 2011.
3. Aluminum was discovered by Hans Christian Oersted (1777-1851) when he noticed that electric currents made a needle move near a piece of aluminum foil.
4. Gold is more than just an expensive jewelry material; it also has many practical uses such as dentistry, electronics, and even medicine.
5. Iron makes up approximately 90% of all the metal mined worldwide.
6. Stainless steel is used to make kitchenware like pots and pans because it doesn’t react with food products like copper does.
Interesting Statistics Or Facts Of Nonmetals
1. Nonmetals are the most abundant elements on Earth.
2. The first nonmetal discovered was carbon, which is found in coal and diamonds.
3. Aluminum is the most abundant metal on earth.
4. Some nonmetals can be found in living things like DNA or proteins.
5. Non-metallic elements are metals that don’t have a metallic luster or color.
6. Metals that don’t corrode faster than other metals (copper) are considered to be non-metallic due to their ability not to corrode as fast as others.
Conclusion About The Differences Between Metals And Nonmetals
Metals and nonmetals are two groups of elements that have different properties. Metals tend to be shiny, malleable, ductile, good conductors of heat and electricity. Nonmetals do not share these characteristics but instead are brittle or hard solids that can’t be drawn into wire-like metals. There is a third group called metalloids which has some metal-like qualities such as being soft enough to form wires with their hands but cannot retain an electric charge in the same way that metals will hold on to it when rubbed against something else made out of metal -such as your phone screen! Metalloids include boron, silicon, and germanium. They’re also used in semiconductors for computer chips.
References:
Resource 01: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/metals
Resource 02: https://chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/topicreview/bp/ch10/non.php
