Physical properties of nonmetals. Characterization by position in the periodic table

All chemical elements known to date have a common "house" - a periodic system. However, they are not located there as it is necessary, but in a strict order, a certain sequence. One of the main criteria by which all atoms are classified are characteristics.

The physical properties of nonmetals and representatives of metallic elements is the basis on which not only their division within the table, but also the field of human use, is based. We will get to know more closely with nonmetals and their characteristics.

Position in the periodic table

If we consider the system of chemical elements as a whole, we can determine the location of the position of nonmetals as follows:

1. Upper right corner.
2. Above the conventional boundary diagonal from boron to astatine.
3. Main subgroups with IV-VIII group.

Obviously, their number is clearly inferior to that of metals. On a numerical basis, this will be approximately 25/85. However, this fact does not diminish their significance and importance. In this case, the physical properties of non-metals are much more diverse than those of their "opponents".

Varieties of simple nonmetallic compounds

Define several main categories, which include all known elements considered. The physical properties of simple substances - nonmetals - allow them to be divided into:

• Solid;
• Gaseous;
• Liquid.

In this case, there is a special group of elements - noble gases. According to their characteristics, they do not belong to any of the designated categories.

Gaseous non-metals

There are many of those. These include simple substances such as:

• oxygen;
• nitrogen;
• Halogen chlorine and fluorine;
• hydrogen;
• White phosphorus;
• ozone.

However, this is possible under the condition of standard environmental parameters. The crystal lattice of these representatives is molecular, the type of chemical bond in molecules is covalent nonpolar. The physical properties of nonmetals of this group are similar. They possess:

• Compressibility;
• The ability of boundless mixing among themselves;
• Extensibility;
• Fill the entire volume of the vessel.

Among the listed substances are two poisonous - chlorine and white phosphorus. Very dangerous, suffocating compounds. In this case, chlorine is a yellow-green gas, phosphorus is white, easily flammable in air.

Oxygen and ozone are good oxidizers. The first is a constant component of air, necessary for the life of most organisms. The second is formed after a thunderstorm with the action of electric discharges of lightning on the oxygen of the air. Has a pleasant smell of freshness.

Liquid non-metals

The physical properties of non-metals in this group can be described by giving a characterization of only one substance, bromine. Since only it is a liquid under ordinary conditions among all representatives of the group of elements under consideration.

It is a dark-brown liquid, heavy enough, which is the strongest poison. Even pairs of bromine are able to cause complex, long-term healing ulcers on the hands. The smell of it is very unpleasant, for which the element got its name (in the translation bromos - offensive).

In terms of its chemical characteristics, bromine is an oxidizer for metals and a reducing agent for stronger nonmetals than it is itself.

Despite such features, bromine ions must necessarily be present in the human body. Without it, there are diseases associated with hormonal disorders.

Solid Representatives

The majority of nonmetals belong to the simple substances of this category. It:

• Boron;
• All allotropic modifications of carbon;
• Red and black phosphorus;
• sulfur;
• silicon;
• arsenic;
• One of the modifications of tin.

All of them have an atomic crystal lattice, fairly solid, but brittle substances. Black phosphorus is a greasy dry joint. Red is a paste-like mass.

The hardest of all these substances is a diamond - a kind of carbon. The physical and chemical properties of nonmetals in this group are very different, since some of them are far apart from each other in the table. Hence, the degree of oxidation, the chemical activity, the nature of the compounds - all these indicators will vary.

An interesting non-metal in the solid state is iodine. Its crystals shine on the cut, thus showing similarity with metals. This is not surprising, because it is located almost on the border with them. Also, this substance has a special property - sublimation. When heated, iodine passes into the gaseous state, bypassing the liquid. Its vapors are brightly violet saturated color.

Physical properties of nonmetals: table

To make it easier to identify what non-metals are, it is better to build a generalizing table. It will show what the general physical properties of nonmetals are, and what are their differences.

It is obvious that the physical properties of non-metals are more dominated by differences than similarities. If for metals we can distinguish several characteristics, under which each of them will fall, then for the elements considered by us this is impossible.