Nonmetals (Periodic Table of the Elements)

Materials that are poor conductors of electricity are generally considered nonmetals. One important use of nonmetals is the ability to insulate against current flow. The Earth's atmosphere is composed of nonmetallic elements, but lightning can break down the electron bonds and allow huge voltages to make their way to the ground. Water in its pure form is nonmetallic, though it almost always contains impurities called electrolytes that allow for an electric field. Cover......Page 1 Nonmetals......Page 4 Contents......Page 6 Preface......Page 9 Acknowledgments......Page 12 Introduction......Page 14 Overview: Chemistry and Physics Background......Page 18 1 Hydrogen: Ubiquitous by Nature......Page 36 The Astrophysics of Hydrogen......Page 37 Discovery and Naming of Hydrogen......Page 40 A Planetary Notion: The Bohr Model......Page 41 A Quantum Solution......Page 46 Heavy Hydrogen: Deuterium, Tritium, and Beyond......Page 49 The Negative Hydrogen Ion......Page 51 The Chemistry of Hydrogen......Page 52 Disaster in the Making: The Hindenburg Zeppelin......Page 55 Fuel Cells: Hydrogen and the Energy Crisis......Page 57 Hydrogen as Metal......Page 59 Technology and Current Uses......Page 60 2 Carbon: The Element of Life, Coal, and Diamonds......Page 62 The Astrophysics of Carbon......Page 63 Earthbound: From Coal to Diamonds......Page 64 Discovery and Naming of Carbon......Page 65 The Chemistry of Carbon......Page 68 The Basis of Life......Page 75 Petroleum Deposits and Oil Depletion......Page 76 The Carbon Cycle......Page 79 Carbon Dating......Page 80 Global Warming and CO2......Page 82 Technology and Current Uses......Page 87 3 Nitrogen: In the Atmosphere......Page 90 The Astrophysics of Nitrogen......Page 91 Discovery and Naming of Nitrogen......Page 93 The Nitrogen Cycle: How Plants Breathe......Page 94 The NOx Problem......Page 99 Nitrogen Narcosis and Decompression Sickness......Page 104 N2 Use in Automobile Tires......Page 105 Technology and Current Uses......Page 106 4 Phosphorus: Fertilizers, Photosynthesis, and Strong Bones......Page 108 The Astrophysics of Phosphorus......Page 109 The P in Photosynthesis......Page 112 Higher Yields: Phosphorus and Agriculture......Page 114 Insecticides......Page 116 Phosphorescence without Phosphorus......Page 118 Phosphates and the Environment......Page 119 Technology and Current Uses......Page 121 5 Oxygen: From Flames to Pollution......Page 122 Oxygen in Stars and on Earth......Page 123 Discovery and Naming of Oxygen......Page 125 The Chemistry of Oxygen: From Antioxidants to Free Radicals......Page 129 Ozone Above and Below......Page 131 A Recent Trend: Oxygen Bars......Page 135 Technology and Current Uses......Page 138 6 Sulfur: In Mythology and Reality......Page 139 Sulfur in Stars and on Earth......Page 142 Discovery and Naming of Sulfur......Page 144 The Chemistry of Sulfur: Known for Its Smell......Page 146 From the Ancient Chinese: Gunpowder and Matches......Page 151 Sulfites and Food Preservation......Page 152 A Visit to Yellowstone......Page 153 7 Selenium: Its Relevance in Health, Photocopiers, and Solar Cells......Page 156 Selenium in Stars and on Earth......Page 157 The Discovery and Naming of Selenium......Page 159 Toxic but Essential......Page 160 Selenium in Glass Colorizing......Page 161 Progress: Replaced by Silicon......Page 163 Understanding Patterns and Properties in the Nonmetals......Page 165 New Physics......Page 167 New Chemistry......Page 168 SI Units and Conversions......Page 170 List of Acronyms......Page 172 Periodic Table of the Elements......Page 173 Table of Element Categories......Page 174 Chronology......Page 175 Glossary......Page 179 Further Resources......Page 201 General Resources......Page 206 Index......Page 213 Facts On File, Inc. Cover 1 Nonmetals 4 Contents 6 Preface 9 Acknowledgments 12 Introduction 14 Overview: Chemistry and Physics Background 18 1 Hydrogen: Ubiquitous by Nature 36 The Astrophysics of Hydrogen 37 Discovery and Naming of Hydrogen 40 A Planetary Notion: The Bohr Model 41 A Quantum Solution 46 Heavy Hydrogen: Deuterium, Tritium, and Beyond 49 The Negative Hydrogen Ion 51 The Chemistry of Hydrogen 52 Disaster in the Making: The Hindenburg Zeppelin 55 Fuel Cells: Hydrogen and the Energy Crisis 57 Hydrogen as Metal 59 Technology and Current Uses 60 2 Carbon: The Element of Life, Coal, and Diamonds 62 The Astrophysics of Carbon 63 Earthbound: From Coal to Diamonds 64 Discovery and Naming of Carbon 65 The Chemistry of Carbon 68 The Basis of Life 75 Petroleum Deposits and Oil Depletion 76 The Carbon Cycle 79 Carbon Dating 80 Global Warming and CO2 82 Buckminsterfullerene 87 Technology and Current Uses 87 3 Nitrogen: In the Atmosphere 90 The Astrophysics of Nitrogen 91 Discovery and Naming of Nitrogen 93 The Nitrogen Cycle: How Plants Breathe 94 The NOx Problem 99 Nitrogen Narcosis and Decompression Sickness 104 N2 Use in Automobile Tires 105 Technology and Current Uses 106 4 Phosphorus: Fertilizers, Photosynthesis, and Strong Bones 108 The Astrophysics of Phosphorus 109 Discovery and Naming of Phosphorus 112 The P in Photosynthesis 112 Higher Yields: Phosphorus and Agriculture 114 Insecticides 116 Phosphorescence without Phosphorus 118 Phosphates and the Environment 119 Technology and Current Uses 121 5 Oxygen: From Flames to Pollution 122 Oxygen in Stars and on Earth 123 Discovery and Naming of Oxygen 125 The Chemistry of Oxygen: From Antioxidants to Free Radicals 129 Ozone Above and Below 131 Combustion, Fire, and Explosions 135 A Recent Trend: Oxygen Bars 135 Technology and Current Uses 138 6 Sulfur: In Mythology and Reality 139 Sulfur in Stars and on Earth 142 Discovery and Naming of Sulfur 144 The Chemistry of Sulfur: Known for Its Smell 146 From the Ancient Chinese: Gunpowder and Matches 151 Sulfites and Food Preservation 152 Technology and Current Uses 153 A Visit to Yellowstone 153 7 Selenium: Its Relevance in Health, Photocopiers, and Solar Cells 156 Selenium in Stars and on Earth 157 The Discovery and Naming of Selenium 159 The Chemistry of Selenium 160 Toxic but Essential 160 Selenium in Glass Colorizing 161 Technology and Current Uses 163 Progress: Replaced by Silicon 163 8 Conclusions and Future Directions 165 Understanding Patterns and Properties in the Nonmetals 165 Speculations on Further Developments 167 New Physics 167 New Chemistry 168 SI Units and Conversions 170 List of Acronyms 172 Periodic Table of the Elements 173 Table of Element Categories 174 Chronology 175 Glossary 179 Further Resources 201 General Resources 206 Index 213 9780816073672 Provides new developments in the research of nonmetals, including where they came from, how they fit into our current technological society, and where they may lead us