EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Six nonmetals are classified as noble gases: helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and the radioactive radon. In conventional periodic tables they occupy the rightmost column. They are called noble gases in light of their characteristically very low chemical reactivity.

Detailed explanation-2: -Seventeen elements are generally classified as nonmetals; most are gases (hydrogen, helium, nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine, neon, chlorine, argon, krypton, xenon and radon); one is a liquid (bromine); and a few are solids (carbon, phosphorus, sulfur, selenium, and iodine).

Detailed explanation-3: -The earliest attempt to classify the elements was in 1789, when Antoine Lavoisier grouped the elements based on their properties into gases, non-metals and metals.

Detailed explanation-4: -Group 8A (or VIIIA) of the periodic table are the noble gases or inert gases: helium (He), neon (Ne), argon (Ar), krypton (Kr), xenon (Xe), and radon (Rn). The name comes from the fact that these elements are virtually unreactive towards other elements or compounds.

Detailed explanation-5: -The three major groups on the Periodic Table are the metals, nonmetals and metalloids. Elements within each group have similar physical and chemical properties. Some of the physical properties used to distinguish between the three groups are: Luster = the ability of a substance to reflect light.