Question

Define metallic and non-metallic characters.

Answer 1

Hint: metallic character refers to the level of reactivity of a metal. Non-metallic character relates to the tendency to accept electrons during chemical reactions. Metallic tendency increases going down a group. Non-metallic tendency increases going from left to right across the periodic table.

Complete answer:
Metallic characters refer to the tendency of an element or a metal to lose electrons and form positive ions (cations). For example- sodium, potassium, etc.
Non-metallic character refers to the tendency of an element to accept electrons to form negative ions (anions). For example- oxygen, chlorine, etc.
The metallic characters are shown by metals and the non-metallic characters are shown by non-metals. The difference between the metals and non-metals are given in the table below:

Metals-showing metallic character	Non-metals-chowing non-metallic characters
They are solids at room temperature. except for mercury and gallium	They are solid as well as gases at room temperature except for bromine.
Good conductors of electricity and heat	Generally poor conductors of electricity and heat
Malleable, ductile, and generally hard except sodium and potassium	Neither malleable nor ductile, and generally soft except diamond
Metals generally have a high melting point and boiling point except for gallium and cesium	Non-metals generally have low melting points and boiling points except diamond and gallium.
give a shining appearance (lustrous)	no shining appearance except iodine (non-lustrous)
Metals are electropositive	Non-metals are electronegative

Note:
There are certain elements whose properties lie between the metals and non-metals, these are called metalloids. There are only seven metalloids in the entire periodic table. These are boron, silicon, germanium, arsenic, antimony, tellurium, and polonium. They are solid, brittle, and semi-conductive. When mixed with metals they can form alloys.