Metals and non metals

• • Elements that react by losing electrons to form positive ions are metals
• • elements that react by gaining electrons to form negative ions are non-metals. Non metals also include Group 0 elements
• Majority of elements are metals. Metals are found to the left and towards the bottom of the periodic table. Non metals are found towards the right and top of periodic table
• • As you go down the groups, the outer shell electrons become further away from the nucleus due to increasing atomic size
  • This weakens their attraction to the nucleus
• For metals

  • The further down the group an element is, the more easily it can react and lose its outer electron(s)
• 
  

  • non metal elements have a lot of outer electrons, and it is more easier for them to gain (or share electrons covalently) to obtain a full outer shell
  • This is a key difference between metals and non-metals and influences their chemical behaviour
• Properties of metals

  • 1-3 outer shell electrons
  • Metallic bonding due to loss of electrons
  • good conductor of electricity
  • They are Basic oxides
  • Many react with acids
  • Usually lustrous - shiny
• Properties of non metals

  • 4-7 outer electrons( including group 0)
  • Covalent bond by sharing outer electrons
  • Poor conductor of electricity
  • They are Acidic oxides ( some are neutral)
  • Usually do not react with acids