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| Non Metals - Introduction |
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| Non-metals are the elements in groups 14-18 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 (oxygen) and solids (carbon). The non-metals have no metallic luster, and do not reflect light |
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| The most abundant non-metal in the earths crust is oxygen, which constitutes about 50% of the earths crust. The next abundant non metal is silicon which constitutes about 26% of the earths crust. |
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| Oxygen > silicon > phosphorus > sulphur |
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| Though the non-metals are only 22 in number, they are the major constituents of earth, air and oceans. Oxygen and nitrogen are the main constituents of air. Oxygen and silicon are the two major constituents of earth. Hydrogen and oxygen are the two major constituents of the oceans. |
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