Chemical element that mostly lacks the characteristics of a metal
This article is about a class of two dozen or so chemical elements. For the use of the term nonmetal in astronomy, see nonmetal (astrophysics). For nonmetallic substances, see materials science.
Nonmetals in their periodic table context
usually/always counted as a nonmetal[1][2][3]
sometimes counted as a nonmetal[4][a]
status as nonmetal or metal unconfirmed[5]
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Nonmetals are chemical elements that mostly lack distinctive metallic properties. They range from colorless gases like hydrogen to shiny crystals like iodine. Physically, they are usually lighter (less dense) than metals; brittle or crumbly if solid; and often poor conductors of heat and electricity. Chemically, nonmetals have high electronegativity (meaning they usually attract electrons in a chemical bond); and their oxides tend to be acidic.
Seventeen elements are widely recognized as nonmetals. Additionally, some or all of six borderline elements (metalloids) are sometimes counted as nonmetals.
The two lightest nonmetals, hydrogen and helium, together make up about 98% of the mass of the observable universe. Five nonmetallic elements—hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and silicon—make up the bulk of Earth's oceans, atmosphere, biosphere, and crust.
The diverse properties of nonmetals enable a range of natural and technological uses. Hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen are essential building blocks for life. Industrial uses of nonmetals include electronics, energy storage, agriculture, and chemical production.
Most nonmetallic elements were not identified until the 18th and 19th centuries. While a distinction between metals and other minerals had existed since antiquity, a basic classification of chemical elements as metallic or nonmetallic emerged only in the late 18th century. Since then over two dozen properties have been suggested as criteria for distinguishing nonmetals from metals.
^Cite error: The named reference Larrañaga was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference Steudel was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference Vernon2013 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference Goodrich etc was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^At: Restrepo et al. 2006, p. 411; Thornton & Burdette 2010, p. 86; Hermann, Hoffmann & Ashcroft 2013, pp. 11604‒1‒11604‒5; Cn: Mewes et al. 2019; Fl: Florez et al. 2022; Og: Smits et al. 2020
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