Non-metals include elements in groups 14-16 of the periodic table. They are not good conductors of electricity or heat, are brittle, and exist as gases or solids at room temperature. Non-metals have no metallic luster, oxidation numbers of ±4, -3, or -2, and do not reflect light well. Hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur, and selenium are examples of non-metals described in the document with their atomic properties.
1. Non-Metals
Non-metals are the elements in groups 14-16 of the
periodic table. Non-metals are not able to conduct
electricity or heat very well. As opposed to metals, non-
metallic elements are very brittle, and cannot be rolled
into wires or pounded into sheets. The non-metals exist
in two of the three states of matter at room
temperature: gases (such as oxygen) and solids (such
as carbon). The non-metals have no metallic luster, and
do not reflect light. They have oxidation numbers of ±4,
-3, and -2.
2. Hydrogen
Name: Hydrogen
Symbol: H
Atomic Number: 1
Atomic Mass: 1.00794 amu
Melting Point: -259.14 °C (14.009985
K, -434.45203 °F)
Boiling Point: -252.87 °C (20.280005
K, -423.166 °F)
Number of Protons/Electrons: 1
Number of Neutrons: 0
Classification: Non-metal
Crystal Structure: Hexagonal
Density @ 293 K: 0.08988 g/cm3
Color: colorless
3. Carbon
Name: Carbon
Symbol: C
Atomic Number: 6
Atomic Mass: 12.0107 amu
Melting Point: 3500.0 °C (3773.15
K, 6332.0 °F)
Boiling Point: 4827.0 °C (5100.15
K, 8720.6 °F)
Number of Protons/Electrons: 6
Number of Neutrons: 6
Classification: Non-metal
Crystal Structure: Hexagonal
Density @ 293 K: 2.62 g/cm3
Color: May be black
4. Nitrogen
Name: Nitrogen
Symbol: N
Atomic Number: 7
Atomic Mass: 14.00674 amu
Melting Point: -209.9 °C (63.250008
K, -345.81998 °F)
Boiling Point: -195.8 °C (77.35 K,
-320.44 °F)
Number of Protons/Electrons: 7
Number of Neutrons: 7
Classification: Non-metal
Crystal Structure: Hexagonal
Density @ 293 K: 1.2506 g/cm3
Color: colorless
5. Oxygen
Name: Oxygen
Symbol: O
Atomic Number: 8
Atomic Mass: 15.9994 amu
Melting Point: -218.4 °C (54.750008 K,
-361.12 °F)
Boiling Point: -183.0 °C (90.15 K, -297.4
°F)
Number of Protons/Electrons: 8
Number of Neutrons: 8
Classification: Non-metal
Crystal Structure: Cubic
Density @ 293 K: 1.429 g/cm3
Color: colorless
6. Phosphorus
Name: Phosphorus
Symbol: P
Atomic Number: 15
Atomic Mass: 30.97376 amu
Melting Point: 44.1 °C (317.25 K,
111.38 °F)
Boiling Point: 280.0 °C (553.15 K,
536.0 °F)
Number of Protons/Electrons: 15
Number of Neutrons: 16
Classification: Non-metal
Crystal Structure: Monoclinic
Density @ 293 K: 1.82 g/cm3
Color: white
7. Sulfur
Name: Sulfur
Symbol: S
Atomic Number: 16
Atomic Mass: 32.066 amu
Melting Point: 112.8 °C (385.95 K,
235.04001 °F)
Boiling Point: 444.6 °C (717.75 K, 832.28
°F)
Number of Protons/Electrons: 16
Number of Neutrons: 16
Classification: Non-metal
Crystal Structure: Orthorhombic
Density @ 293 K: 2.07 g/cm3
Color: yellow
British Spelling: Sulphur
IUPAC Spelling: Sulfur
8. Selenium
Name: Selenium
Symbol: Se
Atomic Number: 34
Atomic Mass: 78.96 amu
Melting Point: 217.0 °C (490.15 K,
422.6 °F)
Boiling Point: 684.9 °C (958.05005 K,
1264.8201 °F)
Number of Protons/Electrons: 34
Number of Neutrons: 45
Classification: Non-metal
Crystal Structure: Hexagonal
Density @ 293 K: 4.79 g/cm3
Color: gray