Question

how can the chemical properties of metals and non metals be used to tell them apart

Answer 1

Answer:

Most metals form metal oxides when they come in contact with the oxygen. Whereas when they are exposed to oxygen, non-metals react with oxygen to form acidic oxides. Metals have low electro-negativities, they are electropositive elements. Whereas the non-metal elements do not react with water.

Answer 2

Chemical properties which differentiate metal and non metal are -

1. Metals form positively charged cations while non metals form negatively charged anions.
2. Metals are electropositive in nature, thus can lose electron easily and non metals are electronegative in nature, thus can gain electron easily.
3. Metals can react with water but non metals do not react with water.
4. Metals are good reducing agents and non metals are good oxidising agents.