Where Are the Metals Located on the Periodic Table?

Metals on the periodic table occur on the left side of each row. The non-metals occur to the right side of each row and metalloids occur in some rows between the occurrence of metals and nonmetals. Metals can be grouped into five types.

Alkali Metals

The first column (the column to the far left of the periodic table) contains the alkali metals. All the elements in this column with the exception of hydrogen are alkali metals.

Alkaline Earth Metals

The second column of the periodic table contains the alkaline earth metals. All the elements in this column are metals.

Transition Metals

The next 10 columns occur only at row four and below and are known collectively as the transition metals.

Rare Earth Metals

Elements with an atomic number between 58 and 71 are known as the lanthanides and those with an atomic number between 90 and 103 are known as the actinides. These two series are often placed outside the periodic table to condense the size of the table and are often collectively referred to as the rare earth metals.

Other Metals

Group 3A to 7A occurring in row 2 through 6 contain a mixture of metals, non metals, and metalloids. These metals are Aluminum, Gallium, Indium, Tin, Thallium, Lead, and Bismuth.

References

• Los Alamos National Laboratory. A Periodic Table of the Elements at Los Alamos National Laboratory. 27 November 2009