Non-metals

• A non-metal is an element that is neither malleable nor ductile, and does not conduct electricity.

Properties of Non-Metals:

1.  Non-metals are either gases or solids at room temperature.

Exception: Bromine is liquid at room temperature

2. Non-metals are neither malleable nor ductile in nature.
3. Non-metals are poor conductors of electricity.

Exception: Graphite is a good conductor of electricity. It is an allotrope of carbon.

4. Non-metals which are solids have generally dull surfaces.

Exception: Crystals of iodine have bright luster.

5. Non-metals are generally soft and have smaller densities than metals.

Exception: Diamond is very hard. It is probably the hardest substance known

6. Non-metals which are in solid state are not strong. They have low tensile strength. This means that non-metals cannot hold large weights.
7. Non-metals have comparatively low melting points and boiling points

Exception: Diamond is an allotrope of carbon which has very high melting point

8. Non-metals have low densities.
9. Non-metals are not sonorous.

Metalloids:

• There are a few elements which possess the characteristics of both metals and non-metals. They are known as semi-metals or metalloids.
• The important examples of metalloids are: Boron (B), Silicon (Si), and Germanium (Ge), Arsenic, Antimony, Tellurium, Polonium