What is the difference between metal and nonmetal?

Elements may be classified as either metals or nonmetals based on their properties. Here's a look at the differences between the metals and nonmetals. read more

Both metals and nonmetals take different forms (allotropes), which have different appearances and properties from each other. For example, graphite and diamond are two allotropes of the nonmetal carbon, while ferrite and austenite are two allotropes of iron. read more

The major defining feature of metals is that electrons flow relatively freely between atoms in any object composed of two or more metal atoms, whereas electrons around nonmetals are more tightly bound to their respective nuclei or within individual chemical bonds. read more

Both metals and nonmetals may be part of the periodic table but there is a lot of differences between metal and nonmetals in both chemical and physical make-up. Most of the elements in the periodic table are metals and only a few are nonmetals. read more