Metals, Nonmetals, and Metalloids
This section explores the fundamental characteristics of metals, nonmetals, and metalloids, highlighting their distinct properties and reactivity patterns.
Definition: Density greater than water is a characteristic shared by most metals and nonmetals, except for Group 1 metals.
Example: The most reactive metal in group 1 is francium, though cesium is the most reactive naturally occurring metal, demonstrating explosive reactions with water.
Highlight: When considering what density sinks in water, most metals will sink due to their higher density, while some Group 1 metals float.
The section details how metals typically have low ionization energy and electronegativity, forming positive ions in reactions. Nonmetals, conversely, exhibit high ionization energy and electronegativity, typically forming negative ions.
Vocabulary: Metalloids are elements with properties of both metals and nonmetals, including boron, silicon, germanium, arsenic, antimony, and tellurium.