- #1
ducnguyen2000
- 13
- 0
Just wondering.
Chemical properties is synomymous with atomic structure.ducnguyen2000 said:What I was asking for was not the chemical properties that makes an atom metal or non-metal, but the structure of the atom that causes these properties.
sirchasm said:Also, you can sort of map (there is a symmetry) between the concept of pure and mixed states in some ensemble - quantum or at the classical limit - to where a gas and a solid state are extremal as vertices in a graph, so all liquids are 'in-between' or mixed states of ensembles.
Any ensemble that is large enough (so approaches a significant fraction of Avogadro's N, of discrete 'states') exhibits 'metallicity', or the corresponding extremal state, or one that's a mixture.
Classical reality evolves from states that superpose, either at extreme vertices, or in between them.
sirchasm said:If I'm not horribly confused about it, cosmologists (astrophysicists) classify anything heavier than He as a metal, since H and He are 'primordial', when it comes to star formation, and stars make 'metals'
"Scientific topics" include the definition of a metal. Astrophysics is a science, therefore the term has more meaning than strictly the chemical one.Mapes said:I can't imagine what scientific topics you might be referring to.
sirchasm said:"Scientific topics" include the definition of a metal. Astrophysics is a science, therefore the term has more meaning than strictly the chemical one.
sirchasm said:Also, you can sort of map (there is a symmetry) between the concept of pure and mixed states in some ensemble - quantum or at the classical limit - to where a gas and a solid state are extremal as vertices in a graph, so all liquids are 'in-between' or mixed states of ensembles.
Any ensemble that is large enough (so approaches a significant fraction of Avogadro's N, of discrete 'states') exhibits 'metallicity', or the corresponding extremal state, or one that's a mixture. Classical reality evolves from states that superpose, either at extreme vertices, or in between them.
Metal atoms have a high number of valence electrons that can easily be shared with other atoms, making them good conductors of electricity and heat. Nonmetal atoms have a lower number of valence electrons and tend to gain or share electrons, making them poor conductors of electricity and heat.
Valence electrons are the outermost electrons in an atom's electron cloud. The number of valence electrons determines an atom's reactivity and ability to form chemical bonds. Metal atoms have a higher number of valence electrons, making them more likely to form positive ions, while nonmetal atoms have a lower number of valence electrons and tend to form negative ions or share electrons.
The atomic structures of metals and nonmetals differ in several ways. Metal atoms tend to have a lower electronegativity, meaning they have a weaker pull on their electrons, and their outer electron shells are loosely held. Nonmetal atoms have a higher electronegativity and tightly held outer electron shells.
Yes, an element can have properties of both a metal and a nonmetal. These elements are known as metalloids and have characteristics of both metal and nonmetal atoms. They have a moderate number of valence electrons and can conduct electricity under certain conditions.
The properties of metals and nonmetals greatly influence their use in everyday life. For example, the high conductivity of metals makes them ideal for use in electrical wiring and appliances, while the nonconductivity of nonmetals makes them useful for insulation. Metals are also malleable and ductile, allowing them to be easily shaped and formed, while nonmetals are often brittle and used in structures that require rigidity, such as glass or ceramics.