Nonmetals on Superphysics

Nonmetals

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Non-metals are found on the upper right side of the periodic table.

They are poor conductors of heat and electricity, lack luster, and are often brittle in their solid form. Nonmetals can exist as solids, liquids, or gases at room temperature.

Hydrogen v001

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

1 Atomic Number

Hydrogen

Atomic Weight 1.008

Melting Point -259.14°C

Boiling Point -252.87°C

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Hydrogen (H)	1	Rocket fuel, ammonia production, hydrogenation of oils

Hydrogen is a colorless, odorless, flammable gas; the lightest and most abundant element.

Helium v002

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

2 Atomic Number

Helium

Atomic Weight 4.0026

Melting Point -272.20°C

Boiling Point -268.93°C

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Helium (He)	2	Colorless, odorless, inert gas; very low boiling point; lighter than air.	Cryogenics, MRI coolants, airships, shielding gas in welding.

Carbon v006

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

6 Atomic Number

Carbon

Atomic Weight 12.011

Melting Point 3550°C

Boiling Point 4827°C

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Carbon (C)	6	Basis of all organic life; steel, plastics (polymers), filters.

Carbon is found in multiple forms (allotropes) like graphite, diamond, and graphene

Nitrogen v007

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

7 Atomic Number

Nitrogen

Atomic Weight 14.007

Melting Point -210.01°C

Boiling Point -195.79°C

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Nitrogen (N)	7	Colorless, inert diatomic gas (N₂); makes up 78% of Earth’s atmosphere.	Fertilizers (ammonia), inert preserving atmosphere, cryogenics.

Oxygen v008

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

8 Atomic Number

Oxygen

Atomic Weight 15.999

Melting Point -218.79°C

Boiling Point -182.96°C

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Oxygen (O)	8	Colorless, reactive diatomic gas (O₂); essential for respiration and combustion.	Medical life support, steelmaking, water treatment, oxidizer.

Flourine

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

9 Atomic Number

Fluorine

Atomic Weight 18.998

Melting Point -219.67°C

Boiling Point -188.11°C

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Fluorine (F)	9	Toothpaste (fluoride), Teflon, uranium processing, refrigerants.

Pale yellow, corrosive, highly reactive gas; the most electronegative element.

Neon

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

10 Atomic Number

Neon

Atomic Weight 20.180

Melting Point -248.59°C

Boiling Point -246.08°C

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Neon (Ne)	10	Colorless, odorless, inert gas; emits bright orange-red light when electrified.	Neon signs (lights), high-voltage indicators, cryogenic refrigerant.

Phosphorus

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Phosphorus (P)	15	Several forms; common white P is waxy, flammable, and toxic.	Fertilizers, detergents, matches, steel production, DNA/bones.

Sulfur

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

16 Atomic Number

Sulfur

Atomic Weight 32.06

Melting Point 115.21°C

Boiling Point 444.72°C

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Sulfur (S)	16	Yellow, brittle solid; burns with a blue flame; distinctive odor when molten.	Sulfuric acid, vulcanization of rubber, fertilizers, fungicides.

Chlorine

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

17 Atomic Number

Chlorine

Atomic Weight 35.45

Melting Point -101.5°C

Boiling Point -34.04°C

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Chlorine (Cl)	17	Water purification, PVC plastic, solvents, bleach, pharmaceuticals.

Greenish-yellow, pungent, toxic, reactive gas; a strong disinfectant.

Argon

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

18 Atomic Number

Argon

Atomic Weight 39.948

Melting Point -189.34°C

Boiling Point -185.85°C

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Argon	18	Colorless, odorless, inert gas; the most abundant noble gas in the atmosphere.	Inert shielding gas for welding, incandescent light bulbs, preservation.

Selenium

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Selenium (Se)	34	Photocopiers, solar cells, glass decolorizer, dietary supplement.

Exists in several allotropes; photoconductive properties; essential in tiny amounts.

Bromine

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Bromine (Br)	35	Only liquid nonmetal; red-brown, volatile, and corrosive.	Flame retardants, water treatment, pharmaceuticals, photographic film.

Krypton

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Krypton (Kr)	36	Colorless, odorless, inert gas; produces bright white light in lamps.	Energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs, photographic flash lamps, lasers.

Iodine

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

53 Atomic Number

Iodine

Atomic Weight 126.90

Melting Point 113.7°C

Boiling Point 184.3°C

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Iodine (I)	53	Shiny purple-black solid; sublimes to violet vapor; essential for thyroid.	Antiseptics, dietary supplement, LED lights, pharmaceuticals.

Bromine

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

54 Atomic Number

Xenon

Atomic Weight 131.29

Melting Point -111.75°C

Boiling Point -108.04°C

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Xenon (Xe)	54	Colorless, odorless, inert gas; densest stable noble gas.	High-intensity lamps (car headlights), ion thrusters, anesthesia.

Astatine

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

85 Atomic Number

Astatine

Atomic Weight 210

Melting Point 302°C

Boiling Point 337°C

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Astatine (At)	85	Radioactive, extremely rare; heaviest halogen. Properties are inferred.	No significant uses due to rarity; potential in targeted radiotherapy.

Radon

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

86 Atomic Number

Radon

Atomic Weight 222

Melting Point -71°C

Boiling Point -61.7°C

Element & Symbol	Atomic Number	Major Use(s)
Radon (Rn)	86	Colorless, radioactive, dense gas; health hazard in basements.	Limited uses; sometimes used in radiation therapy or earth science.

Radon