Write a short note on electronic view of non-metals.
1. An element is called non-metal which form ions by gaining electrons. For example, oxygen is a non-metal which form O2− ions by gaining two electrons. Similarly, nitrogen form N3− ions by gaining three electrons. Thus, non-metals also known as electronegative elements.
2. The atoms of non-metals have usually 4 to 8 electrons in their outer most shell. For example,
Carbon (At No. 6), Nitrogen (Z= 7), Oxygen (Z= 8), Fluorine (At. No. 9) and Neon (At. No. 10), have respectively 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 electrons in their outermost shell.
3. However, there are two exceptions namely hydrogen and helium which have one and two electrons in their valence shell or outer most shell, but they are non-metals.