Explain about the characteristic of non - metals.

Explanation

(i) Non-metals are located at the top right hand side of the periodic table.
(il) In a period, as we move from left to right the non-metallic character increases while the metallic character increases as we go down a group.
(iii) Non-metals are usually solids or liquids or gases at room temperature with low melting and low boiling points (Exceptions: boron and carbon).
(iv) They are poor conductors of heat and electricity.
(v) Most of the non-metallic solids are brittle and are neither malleable nor ductile.