Nonmetals do not conduct heat and electricity well and usually gain electrons in a reaction. Semi-metals have properties between metals and nonmetals and can gain or lose different numbers of electrons in reactions. Metals conduct heat and electricity and typically lose electrons in a reaction.

They are very reactive and can gain or lose different numbers of electrons in reactions. Lanthanide Metals are highly reactive but their ability to gain or lose electrons varies according to each element’s size, so they are less reactive from left to right across the table.Īctinide Metals are radioactive because they do not have enough energy to hold the protons and neutrons together in the atom’s nucelus permanently. Halogens are very reactive nonmetals because they easily accept electrons from other elements. Compounds with these elements tend to be colored and have interesting magnetic properties. Transition Metals can have a slight charge which lets them bond easily to nonmetals. They react well with nonmetals because they can easily give up electrons to form ions. Noble Gases usually do not react because they do not tend to gain or lose electrons.Īlkali and Alkaline Earth Metals are soft and melt at low temperatures. Look at the different groups for clues to how the elements will react. The number of protons gives the element its identity. The number of electrons determines how an element reacts. One atom of each element is made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons. The Periodic Table organizes the elements according to their properties.

Reactivity periodic table