Metals & Non-Metals

• Most elements are metals
• Metals are elements which can form positive ions when they react
• Non-metals don't generally form positive ions when they react
• Atoms generally react to form a full outer shell by losing, gaining or sharing electrons
• Metals to the left of the periodic table don't have many electrons to remove
• Metals towards the bottom of the periodic table have outer electrons with are a long way from the nucleus so feel a weaker attraction
• Not much energy is needed to remove the electrons so it's feasible for the elements to react to form positive ions with a full outer shell
• For non-metals, forming positive ions is much more difficult. 1 -This is as they are either to the right of the periodic table - where they have lots of electrons to remove to get a full outer shell
• For non-metals, forming positive ions is much more difficult. 2 - This is because they're towards the top - where the outer electrons are close to the nucleus so feel a strong attraction
• For non-metals, it's far more feasible for them to either share or gain electrons to get a full outer shell
• Metals and non-metals have different phycial properties
• All metals have metallic bonding which causes them to have similar basic physical properties
• Metals are strong 0 (hard to break), but cab be bent or hammered into different shapes (malleable)
• Metals are great at conducting heat and electricity
• Metals have high boiling and melting points
• As non-metals don't have metallic bonding, they don't tend to exhibit the same properties as metals
• Non-metals tend to be dull looking, more brittle, aren't always solids at room temperature, don't generally conduct electricity and often have a lower density
• Non-metals form a variety of different structures so have a wide range of chemical properties
• Transition metals can be found between group 2 and group 3
• Transition metals are in the centre of the periodic table
• Transition metals are typical metals, and have the properties you would expect of a 'proper' metal - they're good conductors of heat and electricity, and they're very dense, strong and shiny
• Transition metals can have more than one ion. E.g. copper forms Cu+ and CU2+ ions. Cobalt forms Co2+ and Co3+ ions
• Transition metal ions are often coloured, and so compounds that contain them are colourful. E.g potassium chromate(VI), which is yellow, potassium(VII) magnate is purple
• Transition metal compounds often make good catalysts. E.g. a nickle based catalyst is used in the hydrogenation of alkenes, and an iron catalyst is used in the Haber process for making ammonia