Question

Is hydrogen a metal or nonmetal?

Answer 1

Metal

• Metals, in their pure state, have a shining surface. This property is called metallic luster.
• Metals are found on the left side of the periodic table.
• Metals are generally hard.
• Metals are usually solids at room temperature

Nonmetals

• Non-metals are found in the Periodic Table's top right corner.
• In fact, in a horizontal row, the property of elements changes from metallic on the left to non-metallic on the right.
• Non-metals are usually solids or gases at room temperature with low boiling and melting points(boron and carbon are exceptions).
• They are poor conductors of heat and electricity.
• Most nonmetallic solids are brittle and are neither malleable nor ductile.

Hydrogen

• Hydrogen is a nonmetal.
• Compared to the other alkali metals, it produces cations $\left({\mathrm{H}}^{+}\right)$ more reluctantly.
• The atomic number of hydrogen is $1$.
• The electronic configuration of hydrogen is $1s^1$.