Metals and non-metals

How do atoms generally gain a full outer shell?

By losing or gaining electrons

Why do metals form positive ions easily?

• Don’t have many electrons to lose

• Electrons towards the bottom’s electrons are far away from nucleus so have weaker intermolecular forces

Why do non-metals form positive ions, and how do they gain a full outer shell?

They are often only missing a small number of electrons

Easier to share or gain electrons

What causes metals to have similar properties?

metallic bonding

What are the properties of metals?

• Strong and malleable

• Conduct heat and electricity

• High melting and boiling points

• Shiny

• Have high densities

What are the properties of non-metals?

• Dull

• Brittle

• Aren’t always solids

• Insulators

• have a lower density

What are the properties of transition metals?

• Conduct heat and electricity

• dense

• strong

• shiny

• Can form more than one type of ion

• Ions are often coloured so form colourful compounds

• Make good catalysts