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Main article: Discovery of the nonmetals The Alchemist Discovering Phosphorus (1771) by Joseph Wright. The alchemist is Hennig Brand; the glow emanates from the combustion of phosphorus inside the flask. Florez et al. 2022, "From the gas phase to the solid state: The chemical bonding in the superheavy element flerovium", The Journal of Chemical Physics, vol. 157, 064304, doi: 10.1063/5.0097642

Solid nonmetals—Solid nonmetals exhibit characteristics such as hardness and brittleness (B, Si, Ge) or softness and crumbliness, setting them apart from metals that are generally malleable and ductile. Definition and applicable elements [ edit ] Properties mentioned hereafter refer to the elements in their most stable forms in ambient conditions unless otherwise mentioned Like carbon, arsenic (here sealed in a container to prevent tarnishing) vaporises rather than melts when heated. The vapor is lemon-yellow and smells like garlic. [2] The chemistry of arsenic is predominately nonmetallic in nature. [3] Pascoe KJ 1982, An Introduction to the Properties of Engineering Materials, 3rd ed., Von Nostrand Reinhold (UK), Wokingham, Berkshire, ISBN 978-0-442-30233-7 Cotton A et al. 1999, Advanced Inorganic Chemistry, 6th ed., Wiley, New York, ISBN 978-0-471-19957-1

The number of compounds formed by nonmetals is vast. [79] The first 10 places in a "top 20" table of elements most frequently encountered in 895,501,834 compounds, as listed in the Chemical Abstracts Service register for November 2, 2021, were occupied by nonmetals. Hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen collectively appeared in most (80%) of compounds. Silicon, a metalloid, ranked 11th. The highest-rated metal, with an occurrence frequency of 0.14%, was iron, in 12th place. [80] A few examples of nonmetal compounds are: boric acid ( H Abundance, sources, and uses [ edit ] Abundance of nonmetallic elements [ edit ] Approximate composition (by weight) of Kosanke et al. 2012, Encyclopedic Dictionary of Pyrotechnics (and Related Subjects), Part 3 – P to Z, Pyrotechnic Reference Series No. 5, Journal of Pyrotechnics, Whitewater, Colorado, ISBN 978-1-889526-21-8 Koenig SH 1962, in Proceedings of the International Conference on the Physics of Semiconductors, held at Exeter, July 16–20, 1962, The Institute of Physics and the Physical Society, London

Core Concepts

Bolin P 2017, "Gas-insulated substations", in McDonald JD (ed.), Electric Power Substations Engineering, 3rd, ed., CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, ISBN 978-1-4398-5638-3 Germanium, thought to be a metal up until the 1930s, [211] was historically used in electronics, particularly early transistors and diodes, and still has roles in specialized high-frequency electronics. It is also used in the production of infrared optical components for thermal imaging and spectroscopy. [212] Edwards PP 2000, "What, why and when is a metal?", in Hall N (ed.), The New Chemistry, Cambridge University, Cambridge, pp.85–114, ISBN 978-0-521-45224-3 Kubaschewski O 1949, "The change of entropy, volume and binding state of the elements on melting", Transactions of the Faraday Society, vol. 45, doi: 10.1039/TF9494500931 Oxygen is found in the atmosphere; in the oceans as a component of water; and in the Earth's crust as oxide minerals. [189]