Unit 2 Study Guide: Metals, Nonmetals, Metalloids, Alloys, Ceramics, and Glass

Vocabulary terms and definitions covering physical properties of metals, nonmetals, metalloids, ore extraction, periodic groups, alloys, ceramics, and glass from Unit 2.

Metal Alloy

A substance made when two or more metals are combined OR when a metal and a nonmetal are united.

Malleability

A substance’s ability to be flattened into thin sheets by hammering or by the application of intense pressure.

Ductility

A substance's ability to be drawn or pulled into the form of a wire.

Corrosion

The gradual wearing away of a metal as a result of a chemical reaction in which the metal is changed into a metallic compound.

Metallic bond

The force of attraction between the metals and the surrounding sea of electrons in the metal.

Ores

A naturally occurring rock from which a useful metal or mineral is recovered.

Mining

The process of removing useful minerals from the ground.

Reduction

The process of converting an ore into a free, uncombined metal.

Roasting

The process of heating ores in the air to separate less reactive metals from their ores.

Non-renewable resources

Natural resources that cannot be replaced or that can be replaced only over a period of thousands of years.

Alkali metals

Elements in group $1$ (IA) on the periodic table (except for hydrogen).

Alkaline-earth metals

The elements in Group $2$ (IIA) on the periodic table.

Transitional metals

Elements in Groups starting with IIIB through IIB, located between groups IIA and IIIA on the periodic table.

Para-magnetic

Temporarily attracted to an externally applied magnetic field.

Ferromagnetic

Strongly attracted to an external magnetic field and able to retain the property of magnetism after the magnet has been removed.

Metalloids

Elements to the left of the nonmetals on the periodic table that make up the remaining $7\%$ of elements and have similar physical and chemical properties to both metals and nonmetals.

pH scale

A scale ranging from $0$ to $14$ used to rank solutions in terms of acidity or basicity (alkalinity).

Acidic solution

A solution that has a high concentration of hydrogen ions ($\text{H}$), greater than that of pure water, with a pH below $7.0$.

Basic solution

A solution that has a low concentration of hydrogen ions ($\text{H}$), less than that of pure water, with a pH above $7.0$.

Protium

The most prevalent isotope of hydrogen ($99.98\%$), containing $1$ proton and no neutrons.

Deuterium

An isotope of hydrogen with a mass of $2$, containing $1$ proton and $1$ neutron ($0.02\%$).

Tritium

An isotope of hydrogen with a mass of $3$, containing $1$ proton and $2$ neutrons.

Halogens

Elements that belong to Group VIIA on the periodic table; derived from Greek words meaning "produce salts."

Halides

Compounds produced when a halogen bonds with a different atom.

Noble gas

A chemically stable element in group $8$ (VIIIA) on the periodic table that does not readily react with other elements under ordinary conditions.

Alloy

A solid metallic solution or compound made of a metal and one or more elements.

Amalgams

Alloys that contain mercury.

Metallurgist

Scientists who specialize in metals and create alloys by making materials with a specific set of properties.

Bessemer Process

A method developed by Sir Henry Bessemer in $1856$ that revolutionized the steel industry by allowing large amounts of steel to be mass produced.

Ceramic

A non metallic that contains silicone and oxygen.

Firing

The slow heating process during which clay particles expand.

Glass

An amorphous solid with a random structure composed mainly of silicates that are bonded to alkali metals under high temperature conditions.