Elements with non-metallic properties
Nonmetals are elements that lack typical metallic properties. They include hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur, and selenium. They are the basis of organic compounds and life on Earth.
Read in glossaryHydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, making up 75% of all baryonic mass
Oxygen makes up 21% of Earth's atmosphere and is essential for breathing
Diamond and graphite are forms of carbon but with completely different properties
All known forms of life are based on carbon
Phosphorus was discovered by accident — alchemist Brand was looking for the philosopher's stone
Nonmetals have 4-7 valence electrons and tend to gain electrons to fill their outer shell. They form anions or covalent bonds.
Reactivity of nonmetals varies greatly. Oxygen is very reactive, nitrogen is relatively inert under normal conditions, carbon is stable as graphite or diamond.
| Element | Z | Mass u | M.P. °C | B.P. °C | ρ г/см³ | EN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H Hydrogen | 1 | 1.01 ▼ | -259 ▼ | -253 ▼ | 0.00 ▼ | 2.20 |
C Carbon | 6 | 12.01 | 3550 ▲ | 3825 ▲ | 2.27 | 2.55 |
N Nitrogen | 7 | 14.01 | -210 | -196 | 0.00 | 3.04 |
O Oxygen | 8 | 16.00 | -219 | -183 | 0.00 | 3.44 ▲ |
P Phosphorus | 15 | 30.97 | 44 | 281 | 1.82 | 2.19 ▼ |
S Sulfur | 16 | 32.06 | 115 | 445 | 2.07 | 2.58 |
Se Selenium | 34 | 78.97 ▲ | 221 | 685 | 4.81 ▲ | 2.55 |
The term 'nonmetal' means elements that lack typical metallic properties — luster, malleability, conductivity. This term appeared to classify elements by physical and chemical properties.
Henry Cavendish isolated 'inflammable air' — hydrogen
Joseph Priestley and Carl Scheele independently discovered oxygen
Mendeleev systematized elements, including nonmetals
A new allotropic form of carbon — fullerenes — was discovered
Named oxygen and hydrogen, disproved phlogiston theory
Discovered oxygen, nitrous oxide, and other gases
Discovered hydrogen and determined the composition of water