मराठी
Tamil Nadu Board of Secondary EducationSSLC (English Medium) Class 9

Metallic and Non-metallic Characters

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Topics

  • Definition: Electropositivity
  • Definition: Electronegativity
  • Key Points: Metallic and Non-metallic Characters
Maharashtra State Board: Class 10

Definition: Electropositivity

"Electropositivity of an element is the tendency to form a cation by losing its valence electron."

Maharashtra State Board: Class 10

Definition: Electronegativity

"Electronegativity of an atom is the attractive force with which the valence electrons are held."

Maharashtra State Board: Class 10

Key Points: Metallic and Non-metallic Characters

  • Metals are on the left, nonmetals on the right, and metalloids along the zig‑zag line in the periodic table.
  • Metallic character is the tendency to lose electrons (electropositivity).
  • Nonmetallic character is the tendency to gain electrons (electronegativity).
  • Down a group: metallic character increases, nonmetallic character decreases.
  • Across a period (left to right): metallic character decreases, nonmetallic character increases.
Maharashtra State Board: Class 10

Metallic and Non-metallic Character:

Metallic Character: The tendency of an atom to lose electrons and form cations (positively charged ions).

Nonmetallic Character: The tendency of an atom to gain electrons and form anions (negatively charged ions).

Periodic Trends:

1. Down a Group

  • Metallic character increases as atomic size increases, reducing the effective nuclear charge on valence electrons, making them easier to lose.
  • Nonmetallic character decreases since the attraction for additional electrons weakens.

2. Across a Period (Left to Right)

  • Metallic character decreases as nuclear charge increases, pulling valence electrons closer and making them harder to lose.
  • Nonmetallic character increases as electronegativity rises, making elements more likely to gain electrons.

Electropositivity (Metallic Nature): The ability to lose electrons (increases down a group, decreases across a period).

Electronegativity (Nonmetallic Nature): The ability to gain electrons (decreases down a group, increases across a period).

Reactivity of Elements:

  • Highly electropositive metals (e.g., alkali metals) react easily by losing electrons.
  • Highly electronegative nonmetals (e.g., halogens) react by gaining electrons.

The zig-zag line in the periodic table separates metals (left), nonmetals (right), and metalloids (borderline elements), explaining the transition in their chemical properties.

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