Question

Name one property which is characteristic of non-metals.

Answer 1

1. Non-metals are brittle (break easily). They are neither malleable nor ductile.
2. Non-metals are bad conductors of heat and electricity (except graphite, which is a good conductor of electricity).
3. Non-metals are non-lustrous (dull) and cannot be polished (except iodine, which is a lustrous non-metal).
4. Non-metals may be solid, liquid or gases at room temperature.
5. Non-metals are not strong or tough.
6. Non-metals form acidic oxides or neutral oxides.
7. Non-metals do not react with water (or steam) and hence do not displace hydrogen from water (or steam).
8. Non-metals do not react with dilute acids and hence do not displace hydrogen from dilute acids.
9. Non-metals form covalent chlorides with chlorine (which are non-electrolytes but volatile).
10. Non-metals react with hydrogen to form stable, covalent hydrides.