Nonmetal (chemistry) facts for kids

Imagine a super tiny building block that makes up everything around you – from the air you breathe to the phone you hold! That's kind of what an element is. And one of these special elements is called nonmetal. Nonmetals are a group of elements that don't act like metals at all. They don't usually shine, and they're not good at letting electricity or heat pass through them.

You can find nonmetals all over the Periodic table, which is like a big chart of all the known elements. They are mostly on the right side of this chart. Some common nonmetals you might know are oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon. These elements are super important for life on Earth and for many things we use every day.

What Makes Nonmetals Special?

Nonmetals have some unique features that set them apart from metals. Understanding these features helps us see why they are so important.

How Nonmetals Look and Feel

Nonmetals usually don't have that shiny, metallic look. They can be dull, meaning they don't reflect light well. Think about carbon in the form of charcoal – it's black and not shiny at all!

They also tend to be brittle, which means they can break easily if you try to bend or hit them. Unlike metals, which can be hammered into different shapes, nonmetals would just shatter. For example, if you tried to hammer a piece of sulfur, it would just crumble into powder.

Nonmetals and Electricity

One big difference between nonmetals and metals is how they handle electricity. Metals are excellent at conducting electricity, meaning electricity can flow through them easily. That's why electrical wires are made of copper, which is a metal.

Nonmetals, on the other hand, are usually poor conductors of electricity. This means they don't let electricity pass through them very well. They act more like insulators, which are materials that stop electricity from flowing. This property makes them useful in different ways, like in materials that protect us from electric shocks.

Nonmetals and Heat

Just like with electricity, nonmetals are also generally poor conductors of heat. This means they don't transfer heat very well. If you touch a metal spoon that's been in hot soup, it gets hot quickly. But if you touch a wooden spoon (wood contains nonmetals like carbon and oxygen), it won't get hot as fast. This is why nonmetals are often used as insulating materials to keep things warm or cold.

How Nonmetals React with Other Elements

Nonmetals are very good at forming connections with other elements, including other nonmetals and even metals. When they connect, they create new substances called compounds.

Forming Compounds

Nonmetals often share their tiny parts (called electrons) with other atoms to form strong bonds. This is how many important molecules are made. For example, oxygen and hydrogen (both nonmetals) combine to form water (H₂O), which is essential for all living things. Carbon, another nonmetal, is the main building block for all living organisms, forming countless compounds in our bodies and in plants.

Nonmetals and Metals

When nonmetals react with metals, they often take electrons from the metals. This creates a different type of bond, forming compounds like salt (sodium chloride, NaCl). Sodium is a metal, and chlorine is a nonmetal. Together, they make the salt you put on your food!

Common Nonmetals and Their Uses

Many nonmetals are vital for our lives and are used in countless ways every day.

Oxygen

Oxygen is a gas that makes up about 21% of the air we breathe. It's absolutely necessary for animals and humans to live because our bodies use it to get energy from food. Plants also produce oxygen through a process called photosynthesis.

Uses of Oxygen

• Breathing: We need oxygen to survive.
• Hospitals: Patients who have trouble breathing often get extra oxygen.
• Welding: High-temperature flames used to cut or join metals often use oxygen.
• Space and Diving: Astronauts and deep-sea divers carry oxygen tanks to breathe.

Nitrogen

Nitrogen is another gas that makes up most of the air around us – about 78%! It's a very important part of proteins, which are building blocks for our bodies, and DNA, which carries our genetic information.

Uses of Nitrogen

• Fertilizers: Nitrogen is a key ingredient in fertilizers that help plants grow strong and healthy.
• Food Packaging: It's used to keep packaged foods fresh by preventing them from spoiling.
• Cooling: Liquid nitrogen is extremely cold and is used to freeze things quickly, like in medicine or for preserving food.

Carbon

Carbon is an amazing nonmetal because it can form so many different kinds of compounds. It's the basis of all organic life on Earth. You can find carbon in many forms, from soft graphite in pencils to super-hard diamonds.

Forms and Uses of Carbon

• Graphite: Used in pencils and as a lubricant.
• Diamond: The hardest natural material, used in jewelry and for cutting tools.
• Coal: A fossil fuel used to generate electricity.
• Living Things: Carbon is in every cell of your body, in plants, and in animals.
• Plastics: Many plastics are made from carbon compounds.

Sulfur

Sulfur is a yellow nonmetal that can be found near volcanoes. It has a distinct smell, often described as like rotten eggs, especially when it's part of certain compounds.

Uses of Sulfur

• Sulfuric Acid: This is a very important chemical used in making fertilizers, car batteries, and in many industrial processes.
• Rubber: Sulfur is used to make rubber stronger and more elastic, a process called vulcanization.
• Medicines: Some medicines contain sulfur compounds.

Phosphorus

Phosphorus is a nonmetal that is really important for living things. It's a key part of DNA, bones, and teeth. It also plays a big role in how our bodies use energy.

Uses of Phosphorus

• Fertilizers: Like nitrogen, phosphorus is a vital nutrient for plant growth and is used in fertilizers.
• Detergents: Some cleaning products use phosphorus compounds.
• Matches: Red phosphorus is used on the side of matchboxes to help matches light.

Nonmetals in Our Daily Lives

Nonmetals are everywhere! They are in the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the materials we use every day. Without nonmetals, life as we know it would not exist. From the oxygen that keeps us alive to the carbon that forms our bodies, these elements are truly fundamental.

They help us build things, grow food, and even power our homes. Learning about nonmetals helps us understand the world around us and how different elements work together to create everything we see and use.

Images for kids

• Example image 1.jpg

  A shiny metal versus a dull nonmetal.

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  A diagram showing how nonmetals conduct electricity poorly.