Lesson 10

(2) Metal, Nonmetal, or Inert Gas

Obj. 2.  From the name of an element, determine whether it is a metal, a nonmetal or an inert gas.

The second objective says that from the name of an element you should be able to determine whether it is a metal, nonmetal or an inert gas. To do that, you either have to rely on your recognition of these things, or consult a periodic table. The elements which are found on the left side up to the diagonal line that includes aluminum are going to be the metals. The nonmetals will include the other elements up and to the right of that diagonal line and also hydrogen with the exception of the last group of elements on the periodic table, which are the inert gases.

Exercises

Which of the following elements are metals, which are nonmetals and which are inert gases?

a. phosphorus
b. helium
c. hydrogen
d. magnesium
e. manganese
f. argon
g. lead

Worked-Out Examples (a,b,c)

(a) Phosphorus:  Because it is over toward the right side of the periodic table, phosphorus, with the symbol P, is a nonmetal.

(b) Helium:  Helium, with the symbol He, is an inert gas.

(c) Hydrogen:  Although it is way over on the left side of the periodic table, hydrogen should be recognized by you as being a nonmetal.

Answers to Exercises

Which of the following elements are metals, which are nonmetals and which are inert gases?

a. phosphorus - nonmetal
b. helium - inert gas
c. hydrogen - nonmetal
d. magnesium - metal
e. manganese - metal
f. argon - inert gas
g. lead - metal

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