What is the chemical difference between a metal and a nonmetal?
Answers
Explanation:
Metals Non-metals
Metals are electro-positive. Non-metals are electronegative.
Metals reacts with oxygen to form basic oxides.
4Na+O
2
→2Na
2
O
Non-metals react with oxygen to form neutral or acidic oxide.
C+O
2
→CO
2
Metal oxides and hydroxides bonds have ionic bonds. Non-metal oxides and hydroxides have covalent bonds.
Metals react with water to form hydroxide and hydrogen.
2Na+2H
2
O→2NaOH+H
2
Non-metals do not react with water.
Metals react with dilute acids to form salt and H
2
. Non-metals do not react with dilute acid and they can not displace hydrogen.
Metals react as reducing agent by donating electrons.
Na→Na
+
+e
−
Non-metals are oxidizing agents that can gain the electrons.
Cl
2
+e
−
→Cl