Non-metal
Contents
Key Stage 3
Meaning
A Non-metal is a a material that is a bad conductor of electricity and a bad conductor of thermal energy.
About Metals
- Non-metals are found on the right hand side of the Periodic Table
 |
| This Periodic Table shows the Non-metal elements on the right in orange, green and grey. |
Properties of Metals
There are several key properties of metals you should know. Non-metals are:
- Bad conductors of electricity
- Bad conductors of thermal energy
- Dull - They do not have reflective surfaces.
- Brittle - They break easily when hit.
- Stiff - They do not stretch easily.
- Not sonorous - They make a short dull sound when hit.
Key Stage 4
Meaning
A Non-metal is a a material that is a bad conductor of electricity and a bad conductor of thermal energy.
About Metals
- Non-metals are found on the right hand side of the Periodic Table
 |
| This Periodic Table shows the Non-metal elements on the right in orange, green and grey. |
- Non-metals are on the right hand side of the Periodic Table because most of those elements gain electrons to form negative ions in compounds with metals.
- Non-metal elements form covalent bonds with other non-metal elements.
- Non-metal elements usually make poor electrical and thermal conductors electrons are shared but not easily transferred between adjacent atoms.
- Non-metals elements have a range of melting and boiling points with some which are solid at room temperature and others gaseous and one liquid (Bromine).
References
AQA
- Non-metal, properties, pages 34-5, GCSE Chemistry; Student Book, Collins, AQA
- Non-metals, page 108, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Non-metals, page 125, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 1, Hodder, AQA
- Non-metals, pages 23, 28, GCSE Chemistry; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Non-metals, pages 24-25, 27-29, 31, 40-41, 45, 48-51, 86, GCSE Chemistry; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
- Non-metals, pages 54, 55, 70, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Chemistry, CGP, AQA
- Non-metals, pages 54, 55, 72, GCSE Chemistry, CGP, AQA
- Non-metals; properties of, page 10, GCSE Chemistry, Hodder, AQA
- Non-metals; reaction with metals, pages 152-3, 249, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 1, Hodder, AQA
- Non-metals; reaction with metals, pages 37-8, GCSE Chemistry, Hodder, AQA
Edexcel
- Non-metals, page 190, GCSE Combined Science, Pearson Edexcel
- Non-metals, page 25, GCSE Chemistry; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Non-metals, page 46, GCSE Chemistry, Pearson, Edexcel
- Non-metals, page 88, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Non-metals, pages 41, 66, GCSE Chemistry, CGP, Edexcel