Question

What determines that an element is a metal?

Answer 1

Hint: Before answering this question, we should know that there are some properties or characteristics that decide whether the element is a metal or a non-metal. They are the factors that help us to distinguish metal from non-metal. We will discuss them below.

Complete answer:
Some ways to identify a metal are:
Electronic configuration: Metals give away electrons, So a metal generally has 1,2, or 3 valence electrons in its outermost shell.
Physical Properties: A metal is mostly lustrous, hard, malleable, ductile and a good conductor of heat and electricity. The capacity of a metal to lose its outer shell electrons decides the solid or liquid state of the metal. Elemental metals mostly have higher densities compared to non-metals.
Chemical properties: Metals have a higher tendency to lose electrons which makes them a very good reducing agent. The electronegativity is low. They can form cation but it is smaller than the original atom. Here, ionic bonds are mostly formed but some metals like aluminum, iron, lithium form covalent bonds. They react with acids and bases readily but some exceptions are there that are non-reactive like lead, gold, platinum, copper, etc.
Position in the periodic table: Metals are mostly present at the bottom left in group 1 of the periodic table.

Note:
If we know about the atomic number and its position in the periodic table, we can easily predict if the element is metal or not.
S block- alkali and alkaline earth metals.
P block- Nonmetals and gases
D block- Transition metals
F block- Inner transition elements
Non-metals whereas have high ionization energy and electronegativity. They don’t form metallic bonds with other compounds and are called non-metallic.