Non-Metal
Summary: Elements that are poor conductors of heat and electricity, brittle when solid, and tend to gain electrons forming negative ions or share electrons in covalent bonds. Tags: igcse chemistry keyword Created: 2026-08-06
Non-metals are elements whose atoms tend to gain electrons to form negative ions (anions) or share electrons in covalent bonds, rather than losing electrons like metals. They are found on the right-hand side of the Periodic Table (along with hydrogen, which sits on the left). Typical physical properties of non-metals include being poor conductors of heat and electricity, being brittle when solid, having lower melting and boiling points than metals, and having dull surfaces — though there are exceptions such as graphite, which conducts electricity.
The key IGCSE exam point is the contrast with metals in bonding: non-metal atoms react by gaining electrons to form negative ions or by sharing electrons in covalent bonds, while metal atoms lose electrons to form positive ions. Non-metals join with each other by covalent bonding (e.g. chlorine molecules, water, diamond), and with metals by ionic bonding (e.g. sodium chloride).
Sources
- Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry 0620 Syllabus (2023-2025), Cambridge Assessment International Education
Common Misconceptions
| Misconception | Reality |
|---|---|
| All non-metals are gases at room temperature | Non-metals can be solids (carbon, sulfur, phosphorus), gases (oxygen, nitrogen, chlorine) or a liquid (bromine) |
| Non-metals never conduct electricity | Graphite is a non-metal that conducts electricity because of its delocalised electrons |
| Non-metals always form negative ions | Some non-metals (e.g. hydrogen, carbon) typically share electrons in covalent bonds rather than forming ions at all |