Introduction, Representative Metals, Metalloids, and Nonmetals | Chemistry 2e

Learning objectives

Periodicity
Occurrence and Preparation of the Representative Metals
Structure and General Properties of the Metalloids
Structure and General Properties of the Nonmetals
Occurrence, Preparation, and Compounds of Hydrogen
Occurrence, Preparation, and Properties of Carbonates
Occurrence, Preparation, and Properties of Nitrogen
Occurrence, Preparation, and Properties of Phosphorus
Occurrence, Preparation, and Compounds of Oxygen
Occurrence, Preparation, and Properties of Sulfur
Occurrence, Preparation, and Properties of Halogens
Occurrence, Preparation, and Properties of the Noble Gases

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Original figure description: Three photos are shown. The first shows a scientific lab full of equipment in which two people in protective suits are working. The second image shows a man holding a round, reflective disc held inside of a protective, clear container. The third image shows a round disc covered in metallic chips which is behind a protective covering.

Purity is extremely important when preparing silicon wafers. Technicians in a cleanroom prepare silicon without impurities (left). The CEO of VLSI Research, Don Hutcheson, shows off a pure silicon wafer (center). A silicon wafer covered in Pentium chips is an enlarged version of the silicon wafers found in many electronics used today (right). (credit middle: modification of work by “Intel Free Press”/Flickr; credit right: modification of work by Naotake Murayama)

The development of the periodic table in the mid-1800s came from observations that there was a periodic relationship between the properties of the elements. Chemists, who have an understanding of the variations of these properties, have been able to use this knowledge to solve a wide variety of technical challenges. For example, silicon and other semiconductors form the backbone of modern electronics because of our ability to fine-tune the electrical properties of these materials. This chapter explores important properties of representative metals, metalloids, and nonmetals in the periodic table.

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