What is a nonmetal? Its Physical & Chemical properties & usefulness with FAQs

What is a nonmetal? And do you know how many metals and non-metals there are? Based on the important properties found in more than 118 types of elements found in nature, they are mainly divided into three types; which are metals, non-metals, and semi-metals.

What is a nonmetal?

People have been using non-metals for various purposes since time immemorial. Some non-metals are closely related to our lives. For example oxygen, oxygen is the vital air for living beings, without oxygen, they cannot live. Some nonmetals are used in electronic devices, medicine, etc. In this article, we will discuss about nonmetals and their properties and usefulness. Let us first discuss what is a nonmetal?

What is a nonmetal?

Soft, dull, which cannot be made long or thin by beating, does not give a tingling sound when knocked, and is a bad conductor of electricity and heat, is called nonmetal. Some non-metals are also an exception. For example, carbon is a solid nonmetal, diamond and graphite are two different forms of carbon, diamond is so rigid and shiny and graphite is good conductors.

Non-metals are located on the top right side of the periodic table. Halogens and noble gases are nonmetals. They are included in different groups of the periodic table. Group 1 and group 14 have one / one elements, hydrogen and carbon respectively; Two elements in group 15 (nitrogen and phosphorus); Three in group 16 (oxygen, sulfur and selenium); Most group 17 (fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine); and all of Group 18 (with the possible exception of oganesson).

Physical properties of nonmetal

Properties of non-metals are often opposite to the properties of metals.

Luster:

Non-metal does not shine. The surface of a nonmetal is dull. But diamond, which is a type of carbon, is very shiny. Graphite is also a type of carbon, but its surface is shiny.

Hardness:

Nonmetals are soft. But diamond, which is a type of carbon, is very hard. Diamond is the hardest of the natural materials so far obtained.

Malleability:

Non-metals are not malleable. When the non-metal is beaten, it breaks into pieces. Nonmetal cannot be changed into a thin sheet by beating.

Ductility:

Nonmetals do not have flexibility. This property of nonmetals is called Brittleness (fleeting).

The bad conductor of heat and electricity:

Nonmetal is a bad conductor of electricity and heat. But graphite, which is a type of carbon, is a conductor of electricity.

Physical State:

Some non-metals are solids, some liquids, and some are gases at normal temperatures. Such as carbon solid, bromine liquid, and oxygen is in the gas state. Bromine is the only non-metallic element in a liquid state at normal temperature.

Melting and Boiling Point:

The melting point (MP) and boiling point (BP) of nonmetals are quite low. But the melting point of a diamond, which is a nonmetal and a type of carbon, is very high.

Chemical properties of non-metals

• Non-metallic oxides are acidic in nature.
• They form stable compounds with hydrogen.
• Their chlorides are completely hydrolyzed with water.
• When reacting with the oxygen they form an acidic oxide or neutral oxide.
• They do not react with water (steam) to produce hydrogen gas.
• They do not react with acids because they have negatively charged electrons.
• They do not react with a salt solution but displace less reactive non-metals from salt.
• They react with chlorine to form covalent chlorides which are non-electrolytes.

Question Answer about Nonmetal

Question 1- By which elements do the salts of fireworks are obtained?

Answer - Sr & Ba

Question 2- Which radioactive element has a huge deposits in India?

Answer: Thorium

Question 3- Which element is used as fuel in Kalpakkam fast breeder test reactor?

Answer: Enriched Uranium

Question 4- What is heavy water?

Answer: Dimmer

Question 5- Which is the common type of coal?

Answer: Bituminous

Question 6- Who reacts the most with halogen?

Answer: Chlorine

Question 7- Which is the hardest substance in nature?

Answer: Diamond

Question 8- What are the two forms of carbon?

Answer: Diamond and graphite

Question 9- Which is the metal present in hemoglobin?

Answer: Iron

Question 10- Which metals are used in accumulator batteries?

Answer: Lead

Question 11- Which metal is suitable in the manufacture of aircraft?

Answer: Platinum

Question 12- 'Adam Catalyst' is the name of which metal?

Answer: Platinum

Question 13- What is the percentage of carbon in steel?

Answer - Answer - 0.1 to 1.5%

In the last

In this post, we have answered various questions about nonmetals, such as "What is a nonmetal?", "What is the most reactive nonmetal?" Also, information is given about the physical and chemical properties of a nonmetal and different short answer questions, etc. How did you like this post? Please let us know by commenting on this post. Thank you!