Question

State any five physical properties of a non-metal.

Answer 1

Hint: Non-metallic elements are the electronegative elements that occupy the extreme side of the periodic table. All the halogens, chalcogens, boron family, carbon family and the noble gases are classified as non-metals.

Complete answer:
Non-metals can be physically distinguished from metals based on their physical attributes that can be written as follows:
1. The physical state in which nonmetals are usually found is the solid state or the gaseous state. Example: Sulphur is a solid and oxygen is a gas. But bromine is an exception that exists in the form of a liquid at room temperature.
2. Non-metals do not have the tendency to be lustrous or shiny. The solid nonmetals are usually present in the powdered form and have dull colours.
3. Non-metals are usually soft solids that one can easily cut with a knife and hence cannot show properties like malleability and ductility.
4. Non-metals have low boiling and melting points due to the weak forces of attraction present in between their particles. (Their melting points and boiling points are called low in comparison to that of metals).
5. Non-metals do not have the ability to generate sounds when they are hit with any hard object and therefore they are not sonorous in nature. Also, they are poor conductors of heat and electricity with the only exception of graphite.

Note:
The physical property of any type of element is a property that can be observed by looking, touching or listening to the sounds produced by the element. No reaction needs to be carried out for the determination of physical properties of any element.