Properties of metals, metalloids and nonmetals

Part of a series on the
Periodic table
Periodic table forms 18-column 32-column Alternative and extended forms
Periodic table history D. Mendeleev 1871 table 1869 predictions Discovery of elements Naming and etymology for people for places controversies (in East Asia) Systematic element names
Sets of elements
By periodic table structure Groups (1–18) 1 (alkali metals) 2 (alkaline earth metals) 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 (pnictogens) 16 (chalcogens) 17 (halogens) 18 (noble gases) Periods (1–7, ...) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8+ Blocks (s, p, d, f, ...) Atomic orbitals Aufbau principle
By metallic classification Metals alkali alkaline earth transition post-transition lanthanide actinide (superactinide) Metalloids dividing metals and nonmetals Nonmetals unclassified nonmetal halogen noble gas
By other characteristics Coinage metals Platinum-group metals Precious metals Refractory metals Heavy metals Light metals Native metals Noble metals Main-group elements Rare-earth elements Transuranium, transplutonium elements Major, minor and trans- actinides
Elements
List of chemical elements by abundance (in human body) by atomic properties by isotope stability by symbol
Properties of elements Atomic weight Crystal structure Electron affinity configuration Electronegativity (Allen, Pauling) Goldschmidt classification Nutrition Valence
Data pages for elements Abundance Atomic radius Boiling point Critical point Density Elasticity Electrical resistivity Electron affinity / configuration Electronegativity Hardness Heat capacity / of fusion / of vaporization Ionization energy Melting point Oxidation state Speed of sound Thermal conductivity / expansion coefficient Vapor pressure
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The chemical elements can be broadly divided into metals, metalloids, and nonmetals according to their shared physical and chemical properties. All metals have a shiny appearance (at least when freshly polished); are good conductors of heat and electricity; form alloys with other metals; and have at least one basic oxide. Metalloids are metallic-looking brittle solids that are either semiconductors or exist in semiconducting forms, and have amphoteric or weakly acidic oxides. Typical nonmetals have a dull, coloured or colourless appearance; are brittle when solid; are poor conductors of heat and electricity; and have acidic oxides. Most or some elements in each category share a range of other properties; a few elements have properties that are either anomalous given their category, or otherwise extraordinary.