Category of an Element:
An element can be categorized based on various criteria, including its:
- Chemical Properties:
- Metal, nonmetal, metalloid
- Reactive, inert
- Reducing agent, oxidizing agent
- Physical Properties:
- Solid, liquid, or gas at room temperature
- Density, melting point, boiling point
- Conductivity (electrical, thermal)
- Atomic Structure:
- Number of electrons, protons, and neutrons
- Atomic number (Z)
- Electron configuration
- Group and Period:
- Placed in the periodic table according to the number of valence electrons and energy levels
Common Categories:
1. Metals:
- Good conductors of heat and electricity
- Malleable and ductile
- React readily with other elements, forming salts
2. Nonmetals:
- Poor conductors of heat and electricity
- Brittle and usually not malleable or ductile
- React with metals to form salts
3. Metalloids:
- Have properties of both metals and nonmetals
- Examples: silicon, germanium, arsenic
4. Alkaline Metals:
- Very reactive metals
- Form bases when they react with water
- Examples: sodium, potassium, calcium
5. Alkaline Earth Metals:
- Less reactive than alkali metals
- Form hydroxides when they react with water
- Examples: magnesium, calcium, strontium
6. Halogens:
- Very reactive nonmetals
- Form salts when they react with metals
- Examples: fluorine, chlorine, bromine
7. Noble Gases:
- Inert, unreactive gases
- Exist as single atoms
- Examples: helium, neon, argon