Metals vs. Nonmetals
Metals dominate the left side of the periodic table and have distinctive properties. They're shiny, malleable, ductile, and excellent conductors of heat and electricity. In chemical reactions, metals tend to lose electrons to form positive ions (cations). Metal oxides typically form basic solutions when dissolved in water.
Nonmetals, found on the right side of the table, have nearly opposite properties. They're typically dull, brittle, and poor conductors. Nonmetals tend to gain electrons in reactions, forming negative ions (anions). Their oxides usually form acidic solutions when dissolved in water.
Between metals and nonmetals are the metalloids, which show mixed properties. Silicon, for example, looks shiny like a metal but is brittle and a relatively poor conductor like nonmetals.
Chemical Connection: Think about how these properties affect everyday materials. The copper in electrical wires is malleable and conductive (metal properties), while the carbon in pencil "lead" is brittle and non-conductive (nonmetal properties).
The alkali metals (Group 1) are extremely reactive metals with low melting points and densities. They react vigorously with water—some violently enough to catch fire! Similarly, the alkaline earth metals (Group 2) are reactive, though not quite as dramatic as their Group 1 neighbors. Their reactivity increases as you move down the group.