Is Argon a Metal or Nonmetal? (+ 3 Surprising Facts to Know)

Argon is a nonmetal. It belongs to the group of noble gases in the periodic table, which are all nonmetals. ¹ Argon is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas at room temperature. ² It is the third most abundant gas in Earth’s atmosphere, after nitrogen and oxygen. ³

Well, this was just a simple answer. But there are few more things to know about this topic which will make your concept super clear.

So let’s dive right into it.

Why is argon a nonmetal?

The reason argon is classified as a nonmetal is because it lacks the typical physical and chemical properties of metals. 

Metals are characterized by their ability to conduct electricity, their luster or shine, and their malleability, which means they can be easily shaped without breaking. Argon does not have any of these properties. ⁴

In addition, metals tend to lose electrons to form positive ions, whereas nonmetals tend to gain electrons to form negative ions. ⁵

Argon, as a noble gas, already has a full outer electron shell and is therefore very stable, so it does not readily lose or gain electrons. ⁶ This is another characteristic of nonmetals.

In summary, argon is classified as a nonmetal because it lacks the typical physical and chemical properties of metals and shares characteristics with other elements in the nonmetal group of the periodic table.

Properties of argon that classify it as a nonmetal

There are several properties of argon that classify it as a nonmetal:

• Lack of metallic luster: Argon does not have the characteristic shiny or reflective surface of metals.
• Poor conductor of heat and electricity: Argon is a very poor conductor of heat and electricity, unlike metals which are good conductors. ⁷
• High ionization energy: Argon has a high ionization energy, which means that it requires a lot of energy to remove an electron from an argon atom. ⁸ This is a characteristic of nonmetals.
• Full outer electron shell: As a noble gas, argon has a full outer electron shell, making it very stable and less likely to form chemical bonds with other elements. This is another characteristic of nonmetals.

In summary, the lack of metallic properties, poor electrical conductivity, high ionization energy, and full outer electron shell are all properties of argon that classify it as a nonmetal.

How is argon different from other nonmetals?

Argon is different from other nonmetals in several ways:

• Noble gas: Argon is a noble gas, which means it has a full outer electron shell, making it very stable and unreactive. Other nonmetals, such as carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen, are not noble gases and have incomplete outer electron shells, making them more reactive. ⁹
• Colorless and odorless: Argon is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas, while many other nonmetals, such as sulfur and chlorine, have distinct colors and odors. ^{10 11}
• Uses: Argon has unique uses that are not shared by most other nonmetals. For example, argon is used in welding to shield the weld from the surrounding air, and it is used in light bulbs to prevent the filament from oxidizing. ^{12 13}

In summary, argon differs from other nonmetals in its noble gas status, colorless and odorless nature, density, and unique uses.

Further reading

Is Potassium a Metal or Nonmetal?
Is Calcium a Metal or Nonmetal?
Is Titanium a Metal or Nonmetal?
Is Chromium a Metal or Nonmetal?
Is Iron a Metal or Nonmetal? 

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