Editing Nonmetal (section)

==Abundance, extraction, and uses==

===Abundance===
{| class="wikitable floatright" style="font-size: 95%; white-space:nowrap;"
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|+ Approximate composition <br/> {{nobold|''(top three components by weight; elements marked {{legend inline | #FFF2CC
| border    = 1px solid black
| textcolor = black
| size      = 90%
| text      = *nonmetal
}} {{legend inline | white
| border    = 1px solid black
| textcolor = black
| size      = 90%
| text      = metal
}}}}
|-
| '''Universe'''<ref>[[#Chandra|Chandra X-ray Center 2018]]</ref>
| style="background-color:#FFF2CC" |  75% *hydrogen
| style="background-color:#FFF2CC" |  23% *helium 
| style="background-color:#FFF2CC" |   1% *oxygen
<!--
| style="background-color:#FFF2CC" |  x% *other nonmetals 
| style="background-color:white" |  x% all metals
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|-
| '''Atmosphere'''<ref>[[#Chapin|Chapin, Matson & Vitousek 2011, p. 27]]</ref>
| style="background-color:#FFF2CC" |  78% *nitrogen 
| style="background-color:#FFF2CC" |  21% *oxygen 
| style="background-color:#FFF2CC" |  0.5% *argon
<!--
| style="background-color:#FFF2CC" |  x% *other nonmetals 
| style="background-color:white" |  x% all metals
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|-
| '''Hydrosphere'''<ref name=Fortescue>[[#Fortescue|Fortescue 1980, p. 56]]</ref>
| style="background-color:#FFF2CC" |  86% *oxygen 
| style="background-color:#FFF2CC" |  11% *hydrogen 
| style="background-color:#FFF2CC" |   2% *chlorine
<!--
| style="background-color:#FFF2CC" |  x% *other nonmetals 
| style="background-color:white" |  x% all metals
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|-
| '''Biomass'''<ref>[[#Georgievskii|Georgievskii 1982, p. 58]]</ref>
| style="background-color:#FFF2CC" |  63% *oxygen 
| style="background-color:#FFF2CC" |  20% *carbon 
| style="background-color:#FFF2CC" |  10% *hydrogen
<!--
| style="background-color:#FFF2CC" |  x% *other nonmetals 
| style="background-color:white" |  x% all metals
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|-
| '''Crust'''<ref name=Fortescue/> 
| style="background-color:#FFF2CC" |  46% *oxygen 
| style="background-color:#FFF2CC" |  27% *silicon 
| style="background-color:white" |  8% aluminium
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| style="background-color:#FFF2CC" |  x% *other nonmetals 
| style="background-color:white" |  x% other metals
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| '''Earth'''<ref name=":2">[[#Morgan|Morgan & Anders 1980, p. 6975]]</ref>
| style="background-color:white" |  32% iron
| style="background-color:#FFF2CC" |  30% *oxygen
| style="background-color:white" |  14% magnesium 
<!--
| style="background-color:#FFF2CC" |  x% *other nonmetals 
| style="background-color:white" |  x% other metals
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|}
The [[abundance of chemical elements|abundance of elements]] in the universe results from nuclear physics processes like [[nucleosynthesis]] and [[radioactive decay]].

The volatile noble gas nonmetal elements are less abundant in the atmosphere than expected based upon their overall abundance due to cosmic [[nucleosynthesis]]. Mechanisms to explain this difference is an important aspect of [[planetary science]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Pepin |first1=R. O. |last2=Porcelli |first2=D. |date=2002-01-01 |title=Origin of Noble Gases in the Terrestrial Planets |url=https://doi.org/10.2138/rmg.2002.47.7 |journal=Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry |volume=47 |issue=1 |pages=191–246 |doi=10.2138/rmg.2002.47.7 |bibcode=2002RvMG...47..191P |issn=1529-6466}}</ref> The element {{abbr|Xe|xenon}} is unexpectedly depleted, and a possible explanation comes from theoretical models of the high pressures in the Earth's core suggesting that there may be around 10<sup>13</sup> tons of xenon in the form of stable XeFe<sub>3</sub> and XeNi<sub>3</sub> [[intermetallic compound]]s.<ref>[[#Zhu2014|Zhu et al. 2014, pp. 644–648]]</ref>

Five nonmetals—hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and silicon—form the bulk of the directly observable structure of the Earth: about 73% of the [[Earth's crust|crust]], 93% of the [[biomass (ecology)|biomass]], 96% of the [[hydrosphere]], and over 99% of the [[Earth's atmosphere|atmosphere]], as shown in the accompanying table. Silicon and oxygen form stable tetrahedral structures, known as [[silicate mineral|silicates]]. Here, "the powerful bond that unites the oxygen and silicon ions is the cement that holds the Earth's crust together."<ref>[[#Klein|Klein & Dutrow 2007, p. 435]]{{Broken anchor|date=2024-07-17|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=#Klein|reason= }}</ref> However, they make up less than 50% of the total weight of the earth.<ref name=":2" />

In the biomass, the relative abundance of the first four nonmetals (and phosphorus, sulfur, and selenium marginally) is attributed to a combination of relatively small atomic size, and sufficient spare electrons. These two properties enable them to bind to one another and "some other elements, to produce a molecular soup sufficient to build a self-replicating system."<ref>[[Cockell|Cockell 2019, p. 212, 208–211]]</ref>

===Extraction===
Nine of the 23 nonmetallic elements are gases, or form compounds that are gases, and are extracted from [[natural gas]] or [[liquid air]], including hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, and most of the noble gases. For example, nitrogen and oxygen are extracted from liquid air through [[fractional distillation]]<ref>[[#Emsley2011|Emsley 2011, pp. 363, 379]]</ref> and  sulfur from the hydrogen sulfide in natural gas by reacting it with oxygen to yield water and sulfur.<ref>[[#Emsley2011|Emsley 2011, p. 516]]</ref> Three nonmetals are extracted from seawater; the rest of the nonmetals – and almost all metals – from mining solid ores.{{cn |date=April 2025}}

{| class="wikitable floatright" style="font-size:120%;text-align:center; line-height: 95%;border-color:black;"
|-style="font-size:70% ; line-height: 95%;"
| style="border:none"|
| colspan=1 style="border:none;" |
| colspan=4 style="border:none;" |  '''Group''' (1, 13−18)
| colspan=2 style="border:none;text-align:right" |  '''Period'''
|-style="font-size:70% ; line-height: 95%; vertical-align:top;"
| style="border:none"|
| scope="col" style="border:none; width: 22px" | 13
| scope="col" style="border:none; width: 22px" | 14
| scope="col" style="border:none; width: 22px" | 15
| scope="col" style="border:none; width: 22px" | 16
| scope="col" style="border:none; width: 22px" | <u>1</u>/17
| scope="col" style="border:none; width: 22px" | 18
| scope="col" style="border:none; width: 22px" | {{nowrap|(1−6)}}
|-
| style="border:none; line-height: 20px"| &nbsp;
| colspan=4 style="border:none" |
| style="background-color:yellow; ng;border-bottom:2px solid black;border-right:2px solid black;" |  H
| style="background-color:yellow; ng;padding-bottom:3px;" |  He
| style="border:none; font-size:70%;" | '''1'''
|-
| style="border:none; line-height: 20px"| &nbsp;
| style="background-color:#FF9999;mo;" |B
| style="background-color:#FF9999;mo;" |C
| style="background-color:lightskyblue; la;" |N
| style="background-color:lightskyblue; la;" |O
| style="background-color:#FF9999;mo;" |F
| style="background-color:lightskyblue; la;" |Ne
| style="border:none; font-size:70%" | '''2'''
|-
| style="border:none; line-height: 20px"| &nbsp;
| style="border:none;" | 
| style="background-color:#FF9999;mo;" |Si
| style="background-color:#FF9999;mo;" |P
| style="background-color:yellow; ng;" |S
| style="background-color:lightseagreen; sb;" |Cl
| style="background-color:lightskyblue; la;" |Ar
| style="border:none; font-size:70%" | '''3'''
|-
| style="border:none; line-height: 20px"| &nbsp;
| style="border:none;" |
| style="background-color:#FF9999;mb;" |Ge
| style="background-color:#FF9999;mb;" |As
| style="background-color:#FF9999;mb;" |Se
| style="background-color:lightseagreen; sb;" |Br
| style="background-color:lightskyblue; la;" |Kr
| style="border:none; font-size:70%" | '''4'''
|-
| style="border:none; line-height: 20px"| &nbsp;
| colspan=2 style="border:none;" |
| style="background-color:#FF9999;mo;" |Sb
| style="background-color:#FF9999;mb;" |Te
| style="background:linear-gradient(45deg, #FF9999 0 50%, lightseagreen 50% 100%); sb;" mo |I
| style="background-color:lightskyblue; la;" |Xe
| style="border:none; font-size:70%" | '''5'''
|-
| style="border:none; line-height: 20px"| &nbsp;
| colspan=5 style="border:none;" |
| style="background-color:#FF9999;mb;" |Rn
| style="border:none; font-size:70%" | '''6'''
|-
| colspan=8 style="border:none;" |
|}
{{nowrap|Nonmetallic elements}} are extracted from these sources:<ref name="Emsley">[[#Emsley2011|Emsley 2011, ''passim'']]</ref>

;{{legend inline|yellow |size=110%|text=3}}from natural gas components: hydrogen ([[methane]]), helium, and sulfur ([[hydrogen sulfide]])

;{{legend inline|lightskyblue| size=110%|text=6}}from [[liquefied air]]: nitrogen, oxygen, neon, argon, krypton, and xenon 

;{{legend inline|lightseagreen |size=110%|text=3}}from seawater [[brine]]: chlorine, bromine, and iodine

;{{legend inline|#FF9999| size=110%|text=12}}from solid ores: boron ([[borate]]s), carbon (natural graphite), silicon ([[silica]]), phosphorus ([[phosphate]]s), iodine ([[sodium iodate]]), radon ([[uranium ore]] decay product), fluorine ([[fluorite]]);  and germanium, arsenic, selenium, antimony, and tellurium (from their [[sulfide]]s).

===Uses===
[[File:Argon.jpg|alt=seven large red cylinders, with green tops, side by side in a rack|thumb|right|270x270px|Cylinders containing argon gas for use in extinguishing fire without damaging [[computer server]] equipment]]
Nonmetallic elements are present in combination with other elements in almost everything around us, from water to plastics and within metallic alloys. There are some specific uses of the elements themselves, although these are less common; extensive details can be found in the specific pages of the relevant elements. A few examples are:

# Hydrogen can be used in [[Fuel cell|fuel cells]], and is being explored for a possible future low-carbon [[hydrogen economy]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Cheng |first1=Xuan |last2=Shi |first2=Zheng |last3=Glass |first3=Nancy |last4=Zhang |first4=Lu |last5=Zhang |first5=Jiujun |last6=Song |first6=Datong |last7=Liu |first7=Zhong-Sheng |last8=Wang |first8=Haijiang |last9=Shen |first9=Jun |date=2007-03-20 |title=A review of PEM hydrogen fuel cell contamination: Impacts, mechanisms, and mitigation |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0378775306025304 |journal=Journal of Power Sources |series=IBA – HBC 2006 |volume=165 |issue=2 |pages=739–756 |doi=10.1016/j.jpowsour.2006.12.012 |bibcode=2007JPS...165..739C |issn=0378-7753}}</ref>
# Carbon has many uses, ranging from decorative applications of [[Diamond (gemstone)|diamond jewelry]]<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Purbrick |first=L. |date=2011-02-22 |title=Brilliant Effects: A Cultural History of Gem Stones and Jewellery |url=https://doi.org/10.1093/jdh/epq052 |journal=Journal of Design History |volume=24 |issue=1 |pages=88–90 |doi=10.1093/jdh/epq052 |issn=0952-4649}}</ref> to diamond in [[Diamond cutting|cutting blades]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Harlow |first=George E. |title=The nature of diamonds |date=1997 |publisher=Cambridge University Press in association with the American Museum of Natural History |others=American museum of natural history |isbn=978-0-521-62083-3 |location=Cambridge}}</ref> and graphite as a [[solid lubricant]].<ref name=":1" />
# [[Liquid nitrogen]] is extensively used as a coolant.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Beteta |first1=Oscar |last2=Ivanova |first2=Svetlana |date=September 2015 |title=Cool down with liquid nitrogen |url=https://www.aiche.org/sites/default/files/cep/20150930.pdf |website=American Institute of Chemical Engineers}}</ref>
# Oxygen is a critical component of the air we breath. (While nitrogen is also present, it is less used from the air, mainly by certain bacteria.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Franche |first1=Claudine |last2=Lindström |first2=Kristina |last3=Elmerich |first3=Claudine |date=2009 |title=Nitrogen-fixing bacteria associated with leguminous and non-leguminous plants |url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11104-008-9833-8 |journal=Plant and Soil |language=en |volume=321 |issue=1–2 |pages=35–59 |doi=10.1007/s11104-008-9833-8 |bibcode=2009PlSoi.321...35F |issn=0032-079X}}</ref>) Oxygen gas and liquid is also heavily used for combustion in [[Oxy-fuel welding and cutting|welding and cutting torches]] and as a component of [[rocket fuels]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Basics of Space Flight: Rocket Propellants |url=http://www.braeunig.us/space/propel.htm |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=www.braeunig.us}}</ref>
# Silicon is the most widely used semiconductor. While ultra-pure silicon is an insulator, by selectively adding [[Doping (semiconductor)|electronic dopants]] it can be used as a [[semiconductor]] where the [[chemical potential]] of the electrons can be manipulated, this being exploited in a wide range of [[electronic devices]].<ref name=":0" />
# The noble gases have a range of applications, including [[liquid helium]] for [[cryogenic cooling]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=4 Ways Cryogenic Applications of Helium Can Be Used |url=https://www.cryogenicsociety.org/index.php?option=com_dailyplanetblog&view=entry&category=industry-news&id=189:4-ways-cryogenic-applications-of-helium-can-be-used |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=www.cryogenicsociety.org}}</ref> and argon to in [[gaseous fire suppression]] to -damp fires around sensitive electrical equipment where water cannot be used.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=M. J. |title=Which Gases Are Used in Fire Suppression Systems? |url=https://www.firetrace.com/fire-protection-blog/gases-used-in-fire-suppression-systems |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=www.firetrace.com |language=en}}</ref>
# Radon is a potentially hazardous indoor pollutant.<ref>[[#Maroni|Maroni 1995, pp.&nbsp;108–123]]</ref>