nonmetal

n. chemical element without metallic properties

Nonmetal is a term used in chemistry when classifying the chemical elements. On the basis of their general physical and chemical properties, every element in the periodic table can be termed either a metal or a non-metal. (A few elements with intermediate properties are referred to as metalloids.) The elements generally regarded as nonmetals are: hydrogen (H)In Group 14: carbon (C)In Group 15 (the pnictogens): nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P)Several elements in Group 16, the chalcogens: oxygen (O), sulfur (S), selenium (Se)All elements in Group 17 - the halogensAll elements in Group 18 - the noble gases
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Noun
1. a chemical element lacking typical metallic properties
(hypernym) chemical element, element
Adjective
1. not containing or resembling or characteristic of a metal; "nonmetallic elements"
(synonym) nonmetallic
(similar) metalloid

(n.)
Any one of the set of elements which, as contrasted with the metals, possess, produce, or receive, acid rather than basic properties; a metalloid; as, oxygen, sulphur, and chlorine are nonmetals.
  

(metal,metalloid) A nonmetal is a substance that conducts heat and electricity poorly, is brittle or waxy or gaseous, and cannot be hammered into sheets or drawn into wire. Nonmetals gain electrons easily to form anions . About 20% of the known chemical elements are nonmetals.