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Non Metals
Properties of Nonmetals:
1. High ionization energy: A lot of energy is needed to remove an electron from a nonmetal because there are more valence electrons.
2. High electronegativity: Nonmetals have a lot of attraction for other elements.
3. Nonmetals usually gain electrons because:
a. It’s very hard to remove electrons from them (high ionization energy).
b. They have a lot of attraction for other electrons (high electronegativity).
4. Since nonmetals gain electrons, they form negative ions and have bigger radii.
5. Poor conductivity: Nonmetals don’t conduct electricity well.
6. BRITTLE: Nonmetals break easily. Only solids can be brittle.
7. Nonmetals have no metallic luster (shine)
• The most active nonmetal is F, which is the farthest right and highest up on the Periodic Table.
• As you go down group 17, chemical reactivity decreases, which means that the elements become
less metallic.
92 © UNIT 3: PERIODIC TABLE OF ELEMENTS
