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Metals are elements that can easily lose electrons; nonmetals easily gain electrons. The reasons for this are complicated, but if you assume that this is true, you can see why metals do some of the things they do.
Metals easily lose electrons to nonmetals. Because an electron carries negative electric charge, that means the metal has lost negative charge (i.e. gained positive charge) and the nonmetal has gained negative charge (i.e. lost positive charge).
Opposite charges attract, so the metal and nonmetal atoms are now attracted to each other. The force of attraction between them keeps them close together, forming a compound.
But that compound isn't a metal or a nonmetal; it's something new. An example of such a compound is NaCl, table salt.
If you have a chunk of metal, for example iron, it isn't a compound because a compound, by definition, is two different elements bonded together, like NaCl above. Your chunk of iron is made up of only iron atoms. It's a pure element.
When iron is mined out of the earth, it's rarely found in pure element form because of iron's tendency to lose electrons and form compounds. You get Fe2O3 or some other iron oxide that has to be chemically processed to turn it into pure iron. Just like NaCl isn't chlorine, Fe2O3 isn't iron, it's iron ore.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoElements are found combined because they naturally occur together in nature, even though they themselves are a pure substance. in order to be an element, the substnace muct be 100% pure, only 1 substance, firstly. Though, the fact that it is combined does not make it the opposite of a substance.
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoThey are dug out of the ground. e.g. Copper- Copper mines
Gold- Gold mines
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoBecuase of their reactivity. They react to things such as water and air. They are found in ores which are compounds with oxygen or sulfur.
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoGold and silver are very unreactive, so they are found uncombined. Most other metals lose electrons much more easily so are not found except in compounds.
Wiki User
∙ 7y agoBecause they are chemically reactive and easily form compounds.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agobecause nature is nature
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What are the two most common alkaline earth metals?
Magnesium and calcium are the two most common alkaline earth metals.Magnesium and calcium, both in nature as compounds.
Why are elements rarely found as pure substances?
The Group 1 elements, the alkali metals, are so reactive that they have to be stored in oil; they will react explosively with water and since water is so prevalent in nature and the alkali metals are so unstable, you'd be very hard-pressed to find a naturally occurring sample. I urge you to go on youtube and look up reactions of Group 1 metals reacting with water. It's quite amusing.
When is energy given off by most nonmetals?
when they form compounds with metals or other non-metals
Which metal would most likely be found combined?
the majority of metals are found combined with other elements in nature. Only a few are found uncombined- the best known example is gold.
Why aluminium was not used extensively until modern times although it is the most abundant metal on the earth?
Pure aluminum doesn't exist in nature, as it's only found in compounds. As well, pulling it from the compounds is incredibly difficult.
Does alkali metals occur freely in nature?
Compounds, or minerals. The most common is the sodium chloride found in sea water. They are too reactive to be found as free elements.
Which metals are not found in ores?
There are a lot more than five. For example, all the alkali and alkaline earth metals are not found naturally in pure form but occur only in compounds. It's actually unusual for a metal to exist in pure form in nature; most of them occur only in compounds.
Is tantalum found in a pure state?
Tantalum doesn't exist in pure state in nature.
How do most elements in nature exist?
Most elements found in nature are in the combined form because of the ionic and hydroqen bondinq.
What are the most two alkaline earth metals are?
Magnesium and calcium are the two most common alkaline earth metals.Magnesium and calcium, both in nature as compounds.
Why are metals like aluminum never found in the Earth as pure metals?
Aluminium is a reactive metal and in nature only the most unreactive metals (such as gold) are found in thir pure form.
What are the two most common alkaline earth metals?
Magnesium and calcium are the two most common alkaline earth metals.Magnesium and calcium, both in nature as compounds.
Which groups of metals are most reactive therefore never being found free in nature?
Group 1 and group 2 metals
What is the main element that combines with almost all of the other elements?
Alkali Metals, Alkaline-Earth Metals, and halogens are never found in nature uncombined.
Are molecular compounds usually non-metals?
Yes, most molecular compounds do not contain metals. (The term "nonmetal" properly applies only to elements, not compounds.)
Why are elements rarely found as pure substances?
The Group 1 elements, the alkali metals, are so reactive that they have to be stored in oil; they will react explosively with water and since water is so prevalent in nature and the alkali metals are so unstable, you'd be very hard-pressed to find a naturally occurring sample. I urge you to go on youtube and look up reactions of Group 1 metals reacting with water. It's quite amusing.
When is energy given off by most nonmetals?
when they form compounds with metals or other non-metals
