Properties of nonmetals

Nonmetals

1. Nonmetals can be found in nature in the uncombined elemental form.
2. Nonmetals can combine with other nonmetals to form compounds such as:
   • Carbon dioxide, CO₂
   • Carbon monoxide, CO
   • Methane, CH₄
   • Ammonia, NH₃
3. Fluorine is the most reactive of all the nonmetals.
4. Nonmetals are poor conductors of heat and electricity.
5. Nonmetals are not lustrous and are dull.
6. Nonmetals are not ductile or malleable and brittle.
7. Nonmetals have low densities.
8. Seven of the nonmetallic elements exist as diatomic molecules. They are:
   • the hydrogen molecule (H₂)
   • the oxygen molecule (O₂)
   • the nitrogen molecule (N₂)
   • the fluorine molecule (F₂)
   • the chlorine molecule (Cl₂)
   • the bromine molecule (Br₂)
   • the iodine molecule (I₂)

Content suitability

BCIT courses: CHEM 0011