pippa replied: "From Metals to Non-Metals in groups IIIA to VIA of the periodic table elements have properties which change from metallic to nonmetallic. These groups include the boron family, carbon family, nitrogen family, and oxygen family. Boron, the first element in the boron family is a metalloid. Aluminum, which is right beneath boron, is by its position a metalloid. But the properties of aluminum are usually those of metals. The other members of the boron family ...gallium, indium, and thallium, are metals. Boron, which is hard and brittle, is never found in nature in the free state. It is usually found combined with oxygen. The compound boric oxide is important in making heat-resistant glass. Boric acid is commonly used as eyewash and antiseptic. The compound borax is useful as a cleaning agent and water softener. The Carbon family includes the elements carbon, silicon, germanium, tin, and lead. Carbon can combine with other elements in a great variety of ways. Millions of carbon compounds called "organic compounds." Carbon is called the basis for life because all living things contain organic compounds. The Nitrogen family consists of nitrogen, phosphorus, arsenic, antimony, and bismuth. Nitrogen and phosphorus are nonmetals. Arsenic is a metalloid with mostly nonmetallic properties. Antimony is a metalloid with mostly metallic properties. Bismuth is the most metallic element in the family. All members of the nitrogen family have five electrons in their outermost energy level. These elements lose electrons easily. The Oxygen family includes oxygen, sulfur, selenium, tellurium, and polonium. All of these have six electrons in their outermost energy level. Their properties go from nonmetallic in oxygen and sulfur to metalloid in selenium and tellurium to metallic in polonium. ABOUT LITHIUM: Lithium (Greek lithos, “stone”), symbol Li, silvery white, chemically reactive metallic element that is the lightest in weight of all metals. In group 1 (or Ia) of the periodic table lithium is one of the alkali metals. The atomic number of lithium is 3. Discovery of the element is generally credited to Johann A. Arfvedson in 1817. Chemically, lithium resembles sodium in its behavior. Lithium is obtained by the electrolysis of a mixture of fused lithium and potassium chloride. It tarnishes instantaneously and corrodes rapidly upon exposure to air; when it is stored it must be immersed in a liquid such as naphtha. Lithium ranks 35th in order of abundance of the elements in Earth’s crust. It does not occur in nature in the free state but only in compounds, which are widely distributed. The metal is used as a deoxidizer and to remove unwanted gases during the manufacture of nonferrous castings. Lithium vapor is used to prevent carbon dioxide and oxygen from forming scale in furnaces in heat-treating steel. Important compounds of lithium include the hydroxide, used for bonding carbon dioxide in the ventilator systems of spacecraft and submarines; and the hydride, used to inflate lifeboats, and its heavy hydrogen (deuterium) equivalent, used in making the hydrogen bomb. Lithium carbonate, a common mineral, is used in the treatment of bipolar disorder and some forms of depression. Lithium melts at about 181°C (about 358°F), boils at about 1342°C (about 2448°F), and has a specific gravity of 0.53. The atomic weight of lithium is 6.941. I HOPE IT CAN HELP YOU.. godblessü"