The
trivial name 'poor metals' (or 'post-transition metals') is sometimes applied to the
metallic
elements in the
p-block of the
periodic table. Their
melting and
boiling points are generally lower than those of the
transition metals and their
electronegativity higher, and they are also
softer. They are distinguished from the
metalloids, however, by their significantly-greater boiling points in the same row.
"Poor metals" is not a rigorous
IUPAC-approved nomenclature, but the grouping is generally taken to include
aluminium,
gallium,
indium,
tin,
thallium,
lead, and
bismuth. Occasionally
germanium,
antimony, and
polonium are also included, although these are usually considered to be
metalloids or "semi-metals". Elements 113 to 116, which are currently allocated the systematic names
ununtrium,
ununquadium,
ununpentium and
ununhexium, would likely exhibit properties characteristic of poor metals; however as of yet insufficient quantities of them have been synthesized to examine their
chemical properties.
See also
★
Periodic table
References
The Chemistry Student's Companion, Stephen Schaffter, Lulu Press, Inc 2006 ISBN 1-4116-9247-0
External links
★
Patent-Invent - Poor Metals Quick Facts
★
Royal Armouries - Poor Metals