Nonmetals and Their Properties
What word describes how nonmetals can easily break or shatter?
Brittle
Which nonmetal in Group 14 is the basis of life?
Carbon
What is a diatomic molecule made of?
Two atoms of the same element
What type of radiation is just a helium nucleus?
Alpha particle
What are the outermost electrons in an atom called?
Valence electrons
Are nonmetals generally good or poor conductors of heat and electricity?
Poor conductors
What family contains fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine?
Halogen family (Group 17)
Name any two diatomic elements.
Examples: O₂, N₂, F₂, Cl₂, H₂, Br₂, I₂
During beta decay, what happens to a neutron?
It turns into a proton and releases an electron
What rule explains why atoms want 8 electrons in their outer shell?
Octet rule
Which state of matter can nonmetals exist in at room temperature?
All three: solids, liquids, and gases
Which group contains oxygen, sulfur, and selenium?
Oxygen family (Group 16)
Why do diatomic elements exist in pairs?
To complete their outer electron shells and become stable
Which type of decay releases only energy without changing atomic structure?
Gamma decay
What type of bond forms when electrons are shared?
Covalent bond
What type of ion do nonmetals form during chemical reactions?
Negative ions (anions)
Which group contains unreactive gases like helium and neon?
Group 18 (Noble gases)
Is hydrogen part of any group on the periodic table?
No, hydrogen is unique and doesn’t belong to any group.
Who discovered radioactivity?
Henri Becquerel
Why do atoms form chemical bonds?
To become more stable by filling their outer electron shells
Why are some nonmetals highly reactive while others are stable?
Their reactivity depends on how close they are to having a full outer electron shell.
What element in Group 15 makes up 78% of Earth’s atmosphere?
Nitrogen
How can hydrogen behave like both a metal and a nonmetal?
It can gain, lose, or share its electron depending on the reaction.
Name one reason why radioactive tracers are useful in medicine.
They help track movement inside the body (like imaging organs)
Why are elements in the same group on the periodic table likely to form similar types of bonds?
Because they have the same number of valence electrons.