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Quick comparison of metals vs nonmetals. Elements may be classified as metals, nonmetals, or metalloids. Elements with some characteristics of metals and some of nonmetals are metalloids. Metals are on the left side of the periodic table. Nonmetals are on the right side of the table.
Both metals and nonmetals take different forms (allotropes), which have different appearances and properties from each other. For example, graphite and diamond are two allotropes of the nonmetal carbon, while ferrite and austenite are two allotropes of iron.
Metals (like copper and aluminium) are good conductors of heat and electricity, while nonmetals (such as phosphorus and sulfur) are insulators. Materials are distinguished as above, based on their properties.
This periodic table shows the three different groups of elements. The metalloid group separates the metals from the nonmetals. Elements to the left are metals and nonmetals are to the right. The exception is the element hydrogen.
Overview. The characteristic properties of elemental metals and nonmetals are quite distinct, as shown in the table below.
Elements that tend to gain electrons to form anions during chemical reactions are called non-metals. These are electronegative elements. They are non-lustrous, brittle and poor conductors of heat and electricity (except graphite). Non-metals can be gaseous, liquids or solids.
The periodic table can be used to find out if an element is a metal or a non-metal. Metals are found on the left and in the middle, whereas non-metals are all on the right.