Nonmetals

Except for the elements that border the stair-stepped line (more on those in a second), the elements to the right of the line, along with hydrogen, are classified as nonmetals. These elements are in Figure 1.1.

Nonmetals have properties opposite those of the metals. The nonmetals are brittle, aren’t malleable or ductile, and are poor conductors of both heat and electricity. They tend to gain electrons in chemical reactions. Some nonmetals are liquids at room temperature.