Why metallic character decreases across a period and increases down a group?
As the effective nuclear charge acting on the valence shell electrons increases across a period, the tendency to lose electrons will decrease. [1 Mark]
Down the group, the effective nuclear charge experienced by valence electrons decreases because the outermost electrons move farther away from the nucleus. Therefore, these can be lost easily. [1 Mark]
Hence metallic character decreases across a period and increases down a group.