CHM 102
CHEMISTRY OF SELECTED NON-METALS AND GROUP IVA
Dr. M. A. Olusola
Introduction
Chemistry is the study of matter, its composition, structure, properties, and
the changes it undergoes. One important area of inorganic chemistry is the
study of the elements of the periodic table and how their properties vary
across periods and down groups.
Among these elements, the non-metals occupy a very important position because
they are involved in life processes, industrial manufacture, agriculture, medicine,
and environmental chemistry.
Non-metals are elements that generally do not possess the physical and chemical
properties associated with metals. They are mainly found on the upper right-hand
side of the periodic table, with hydrogen as a special case placed above Group 1.
Examples include hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulphur,
fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine.
IMPORTANCE OF NON-METALS
Non-metals are extremely important because they form the essential building
blocks of living matter. For example;
Carbon is the basis of organic compounds
Oxygen is essential for respiration
Nitrogen is found in proteins and nucleic acids
Sulphur occurs in some amino acids and vitamins
Chlorine is used in water purification
Physical Properties of Non-Metals
They are generally poor conductors of heat and electricity, except graphite.
They are usually not lustrous, though iodine shows slight metallic lustre.
They are neither malleable nor ductile.
They are brittle when solid.
They often have relatively low melting and boiling points compared with
metals, although diamond and graphite are exceptions.
They may exist as gases, liquids, or solids at room temperature.
Chemical Properties of Non-Metals
• They have relatively high electronegativity.
• They have high ionization energies.
• They tend to gain electrons in reactions to form negative ions.
• They mainly form covalent compounds with one another.
• They usually form acidic oxides or neutral oxides.
• They often act as oxidizing agents because of their tendency to
gain electrons.
Chemistry of Selected Non-Metals
Hydrogen
Hydrogen is the first element in the periodic table with atomic number 1 and
electronic configuration 1s1. Although it is placed in Group 1, it is unique and does not
fit perfectly into any one group. Hydrogen occurs in combined state in water, acids,
organic compounds, petroleum, natural gas, and living tissues. It is the most abundant
element in the universe.
Hydrogen is colourless, odourless, tasteless, lighter than air, and combustible but does
not support combustion. It burns in oxygen to form water.
Uses of hydrogen
Manufacture of ammonia by the Haber process
Hydrogenation of vegetable oils
Use as a fuel
Use in oxy-hydrogen flame
Petroleum refining
Carbon
Carbon has atomic number 6 and electronic configuration 1s2 2s2 2p2. It occurs in
both free and combined states.
In the free state, carbon occurs as diamond, graphite, and coal. In the combined state,
it occurs in carbon dioxide, carbonates, petroleum, natural gas, and living organisms.
Carbon is unique because it is tetravalent, shows exceptional catenation, forms stable
single, double, and triple bonds, and forms strong bonds with many other elements.
The allotropes of carbon include diamond, graphite, amorphous carbon, fullerene,
graphene, and carbon nanotubes.
Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless, highly poisonous gas and a strong
reducing agent. Carbon dioxide is an acidic oxide used in photosynthesis, fire
extinguishers, and carbonated drinks.
Nitrogen
Nitrogen constitutes about 78 percent of the atmosphere by volume and occurs in
proteins, amino acids, fertilizers, nitrates, and ammonia. Nitrogen has atomic number
7 and electronic configuration 1s2 2s2 2p3. It exists as N2, a diatomic gas with a strong
triple bond, making it relatively inert.
Important compounds of nitrogen include ammonia, nitric acid, and the nitrogen
oxides. Nitrogen is used in fertilizer production, inert atmospheres, food packaging,
and cryogenic preservation in liquid form.
Oxygen
Oxygen is the most abundant element in the earth’s crust and occurs in air,
water, oxides, silicates and biological compounds.
Oxygen has atomic number 8 and electronic configuration 1s2 2s2 2p4. Its
allotropes are dioxygen and ozone.
Oxygen is essential for respiration, supports combustion and acts as a
strong oxidizing agent. It is used in medicine, steel manufacture, welding,
and water treatment.
Sulphur
Sulphur occurs free near volcanic regions and combined in sulphide ores, sulphates,
natural gas and crude oil. Its important allotropes are rhombic sulphur, monoclinic
sulphur, and plastic sulphur.
Important sulphur compounds include hydrogen sulphide, sulphur dioxide, sulphur
trioxide, and sulphuric acid. Sulphur is used in vulcanization, fungicides, pesticides,
matches, gunpowder, and acid manufacture.
Phosphorus
Phosphorus occurs mainly as phosphates in rocks and bones. Its major allotropes are
white phosphorus, red phosphorus, and black phosphorus. It is used in fertilizer
manufacture, phosphoric acid production, detergents, and safety matches.
Halogens
The halogens are fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine. They have seven
valence electrons, exist as diatomic molecules and are highly reactive non-metals.
Their reactivity decreases down the group: F2 > Cl2 > Br2 > I2. They are strong
oxidizing agents and form salts with metals. Their uses include water treatment,
bleaching, antiseptics, dental care, photography and flame retardants.