Combined and uncombined elements

Most of the elements occur on Earth as compounds; very few are present as free elements. The more reactive an
element is, the less chance there is of finding it in the Earth as an uncombined element. Sodium, potassium, fluorine
and chloride which are very reactive are never found as free elements. Gold, platinum and the noble gases such as
argon and helium which are extremely unreactive occur naturally as uncombined elements.

The uses of elements are directly related to their physical and chemical properties. For example, aluminium is a
malleable metal that can be readily formed into saucepans, window frames and thin foils.
Classification of elements
Every element has its own set of unique properties which can be used to distinguish it from other elements.
These properties include melting point, boiling point, density, electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity.
Pure substances can be classified by their state of matter, as either a solid, liquid or gas at standard room
temperature (25C) and pressure (100 kPa).
The properties of these substances as well as their positions in the Periodic table can help determine whether the
element is a metal (metallic in nature) or otherwise.
Metals
Metals occupy the left hand-side of the periodic table and have the following properties:
All most all solids at room temperature (excluding mercury, which is a liquid)
They have a shiny or lustrous appearance
Metals are good conductors of heat and electricity
Metals are malleable (able to be shaped without breaking) and ductile (able to be drawn into wires).
As a result, metals are used for a wide range of uses ranging from cooking utensils, electrical wires, piping to
structures containing alloys (mixtures of metals).
Non-metals
Non-metals occupy the right hand-side of the periodic and have the following properties:
Most are gases at room temperature. Notable exceptions include bromine Br
2
, which is a liquid and iodine I
2
which
is a solid. Some non-metals exist as diatomic molecules rather monatomic molecules.
Most are poor conductors of heat and electricity, with the exception of carbon in the form of graphite.
Non-metals are not malleable or ductile, and are not as strong as compared to metals.
They do not have shiny or lustrous appearances.
Semi-metals
Semi-metals have properties of both metals and non-metals. This category contains elements that are hard to classify
as metals or non-metals.
Unreactive elements, such as gold, platinum or the noble gases can exist as free elements in nature.
In particular unreactive metals such as gold are often referred to as noble metals, while a metal found
uncombined is also referred to as a native metal.
Reactive elements, such as sodium, potassium, fluorine and chlorine are rarely found as free elements in nature
and instead combine with other substances in the environment to produce compounds.