Metals, Nonmetals, & Metalloids

The periodic table of the elements with metallic elements colored in green, nonmetallic in orange and metalloids in blue. Click on image for full size (14K GIF) L.Gardiner/Windows to the Universe

The periodic table on the left separates the elements into three groups: the metals (green in the table), nonmetals (orange), and metalloids (blue).

Most elements are metals. They are typically shiny, good conductors of heat and electricity, have a high density, and only melt at high temperatures. Metals are ductile and malleable, so their shape can be easily changed into thin wires or sheets. Metals will corrode, gradually wearing away like rusting iron.

Nonmetals, on the right side of the periodic table, are very different from metals. Their surface is dull and they are poor conductor of heat and electricity. As compared to metals, they have low density and will melt at low temperatures. The shape of a nonmetal cannot be changed easily as they tend to be brittle and will break.

Elements that have properties of both metals and nonmetals are called metalloids. They can be shiny or dull and their shape is easily changed. Metalloids typically conduct heat and electricity better than nonmetals but not as well as metals.

The periodic table of the elements with metallic elements colored in green, nonmetallic in orange and metalloids in blue. Click on image for full size (14K GIF) L.Gardiner/Windows to the Universe

The periodic table on the left separates elements into three groups: the metals (green in the table), nonmetals (orange), and metalloids (blue).

Most elements are metals. They are usually shiny, very dense, and only melt at high temperatures. Their shape can be easily changed into thin wires or sheets without breaking. Metals will corrode, gradually wearing away, like rusting iron. Heat and electricity travel easily through metals, which is why it is not wise to stand next to a flagpole during a thunderstorm!

Nonmetals, on the right side of the periodic table, are very different from metals. Their surface is dull and they don’t conduct heat and electricity. As compared to metals, they have low density and will melt at low temperatures. The shape of nonmetals cannot be changed easily because they are brittle and will break.

Elements that have properties of both metals and nonmetals are called metalloids. They can be shiny or dull and their shape is easily changed. Electricity and heat can travel through metalloids but not as easily as they travel through metals.

The periodic table of the elements with metallic elements colored in green, nonmetallic in orange and metalloids in blue. Click on image for full size (14K GIF) L.Gardiner/Windows to the Universe

The elements in the periodic table on the left are divided into three groups.

The elements in the table that have green squares are called metals. Most elements are metals. They are usually shiny, seem heavy for their size and only melt at very high temperatures. Heat and electricity travel easily through metals, which is why it is not wise to stand next to a flagpole during a thunderstorm!

The elements in the table that have orange squares are called nonmetals. Their surface is dull, not shiny. These elements seem light for their size and will melt at low temperatures.

Some elements in the table have blue squares. They are called metalloids. They are somewhat like metals and somewhat like nonmetals. Some are shiny and others are dull. Heat and electricity can travel through them but not as easily as in metals.