If you find an element in nature in its pure elemental state, what can you infer about the element's chemical reactivity? How can you tell whether that element is a metal or a nonmetal?

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Alessandra Gilmore

Chemistry

5 March, 08:25

If you find an element in nature in its pure elemental state, what can you infer about the element's chemical reactivity? How can you tell whether that element is a metal or a nonmetal?

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Paulina Bray · Answer 1

A pure element is a pure substance that has only one kind of atoms. If a substance is present in nature in elemental form, it means that the element is not very reactive as reactive elements exist in the form of their compounds with atoms of other elements. Element can be categorized as a metal or a non-metal based on some physical observable properties. Generally, metals are shiny lustrous solids and non metals are gases. Metals are good conductors of heat and electricity whereas non metals are not conductors.