Elements and their Properties
When you think of a metal, what images appear in your mind? Of the known elements, most
are metals. The physical properties of metals make them easy to identify.
Metals have luster, which means they can be polished and made to shine. Metals are good conductors of heat and electricity. Metals are ductile, which means they can be drawn into wire. Metals are malleable, which means they can be hammered into shape. The chemical properties of metals are not so
easily identified. In chemical reactions, metals tend to give away 1, 2, or 3 of their outer electrons (known as valence electrons). Because they tend to lose their valence electrons, metals corrode. Metals also tend to form ionic bonds when they combine with non metals.
The atoms of metals form metallic bonds. In a metallic bond, the outer electrons of the atoms form a common electron cloud. This common distribution of electrons occurs throughout a metallic crystal. In a sense, the electrons become the property of all of the atoms. The electrons are often described as a "sea of electrons." The ability of the electrons to flow freely makes metals perfect conductors of electricity. Look at the image below, notice the electrons are shared by all of the nuclei.
The characteristics of non metal are the opposite of metals. 
Whereas metals are shiny, non metals are dull. Non metals are brittle and cannot be hammered into shape. Non metals are poor conductors of heat and electricity. In chemical reactions, non metals will accept valence electrons. The dividing line between metals and non metals is not quite as definite as one might think. Elements found along the sides of the zig zag line have properties of both metals and non metals. These elements are called metalloids. Metalloids can be shiny or dull, they conduct heat and electricity but not as well as the metals. Metalloids such as silicon are known as semi conductors and are used in the computer industry The metalloids include boron, silicon, germanium, arsenic, antimony, tellurium, polonium, and astatine.
Elements in a vertical column show similar physical and chemical properties. These vertical columns are called groups or families of elements.
The alkali metals all have a single valence electron. With the exception of hydrogen, all of the alkali metals are soft, silver-white metals. They easily combine in nature, in fact you will never find an alkali metal uncombined in nature. Alkali metals have many uses, Lithium is used to treat bipolar disorders and Rubidium and Cesium are used in the photocells of certain solar calculators. Group 2 are known as the alkaline earth metals. The alkaline earth metals all have 2 valence electrons and are never found uncombined in nature. Some of the alkaline earth metals are familiar to you, such as Magnesium and Calcium. It's calcium that makes your bones strong and rigid. The lightness of these metals make them important for use in cars, planes, and spacecraft. Chlorophyll found in plants is composed of a magnesium compound.
The transition metals are good conductors of heat and electricity. They are used in paints, jewelry, money, utensil, and most all durable goods. Some of the names of these metals are common to you. Gold, silver, copper, titanium, iron are just a few. Many of these elements are used in the formation of steel and other construction materials. Some of the transition metals are used to coat and protect other more corrosive metals. To the right of the transition elements are families of elements that are named after the first element in the group column. Group 13 is the Boron family. 
Boron is used in heat resistant glass(such as test tubes for chemistry labs), and borax (a cleaning compound). Boron is also found in some mild antiseptics. Aluminum is the most abundant metal on Earth. It is used in numerous ways, such as automobile parts, trains, planes, and cookware because it does not corrode. Members of the Carbon family include such common elements as carbon, silicon, tin, and lead. Carbon combines with more elements than any other substance, in fact, all living things contain carbon. Carbon is found in diamonds, the graphite used in pencils and tennis racquets. Silicon is a member of the Carbon Family and combines with oxygen to form sand, and of course we know that sand is a key ingredient in glass. Silicon is also found in computer chips. Tin is used in the metal industry because it too does not corrode. 
The Nitrogen family is named after the element that makes up 78% of our atmosphere. Nitrogen is also found in cleaning liquids, as well as fertilizers. Another member of the Nitrogen family is Phosphorus. Phosphorus is used in matches and flares. Arsenic is an important ingredient in insecticides. Group 16 is the Oxygen family. We all understand the importance of Oxygen, it's the most abundant element in the Earth's crust. All living animals use Oxygen as an ingredient for metabolism (the production of energy by the body). Sulfur is a member of the Oxygen family that is used in the medical field, it is used in matches and gunpowder, and is also found in rubber. Group 17 are called the Halogens. They are highly reactive and when a Halogen reacts with a metal, a salt is formed. In fact the word halogen means "salt former." Fluorine, Chlorine, Iodine are a few examples of the Halogens. Fluorine is added to toothpastes and to city water systems to prevent tooth decay. Chlorine is halogen used in disinfecting water. Iodine is essential in your diet toward preventing goiter (which is a gross enlargement of the thyroid gland found in the neck). 
The Noble gases are a family of elements that are normally unreactive. They tend to exist uncombined (inert). A common use of the Noble Gases include neon lights. At the bottom of the table are the Rare-earth elements. The first row is called the Lanthanoid series and is composed of soft, malleable metals that are very shiny. They are used in industry because of the alloys they help form. The second row of elements is called the Actinoid series. All of these elements are radioactive. In fact, all of the elements after Uranium are synthetic (man-made).
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