Question

How can metals be distinguished from non metals on the periodic table?

Answer 1

Unfortunately, there's no universal agreement on this, but many versions of the Periodic Table will offer some guidance.

Explanation:

Certainly, all of the elements in Groups 1-12 except hydrogen are considered metals.

There's pretty good agreement that all of the elements in columns 17 and 18, plus elements `"H, C, P, Se"`, and the elements to the right of them are non-metals.

As you go down a Group, the elements become more metallic.

Most chemists would say that `"Al, Ga, In, Tl, Nh, Sn, Pb, Fl, Bi, Mc,"` and `"Lv"` are metals.

(From www.ptable.com)

In between these broad groups are the metalloids and semiconductors, and different versions of the Periodic Table differ in how individual elements in this region are classified.