Nonmetal

A chemical element that lacks the characteristic properties of metals, especially high electrical conductivity and malleability. Nonmetals include gases, brittle solids, and one liquid at room temperature.

Periodic table: A tabular arrangement of chemical elements ordered by atomic number and grouped by recurring properties. Nonmetals occupy a distinctive region whose position reflects recurring chemical properties.
Covalent bond: A chemical bond formed when atoms share one or more pairs of electrons. Nonmetal atoms commonly bond to one another by sharing electrons.
Ammonia: A compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula NH₃. Nitrogen, a nonmetal, is the feedstock for industrial ammonia and nitrogen fertilizers.
Metal: A chemical element typically characterized by high electrical conductivity, metallic luster, and malleability. Metallic conductivity and deformability provide the direct property contrast for nonmetals.
Valence electron: An electron in an atom's outer shell that can participate in chemical bonding. The number and behavior of valence electrons help determine nonmetal reactivity and bonding.
Ionic bond: An electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions. Nonmetals often gain electrons from metals, forming anions that bind ionic compounds.
Sulfuric acid: A strong mineral acid with the formula H₂SO₄, produced on a large industrial scale. Sulfur is a nonmetal central to producing this widely used industrial chemical.
Metalloid: An element with properties intermediate between those typically associated with metals and nonmetals. Metalloids expose the limits of treating metallic character as a strict binary.
Electronegativity: A measure of an atom's tendency to attract shared electrons in a chemical bond. Nonmetals generally attract bonding electrons more strongly than metals do.
Anion: An ion with a net negative electrical charge. Many nonmetals form anions by gaining electrons in chemical reactions.

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MetalCompared with: Nonmetals provide the clearest chemical and materials contrast to metals.