chemistry

ELECTRO-NEGATIVE OR NON- METALLIC CHARACTERS

Thetendency of an element to accept electrons to form an anion is called its non metallic or electronegative character. The elements having high electro-negativity have higher tendency to gain electrons and forms anion.

So, the elements in the upper right hand portion of the periodic table are electro-negative or non-metallic in nature.

Periodicity:

(i)     In period- The electro-negative or non- metallic characters increases from left to right in a period.

(ii)   In group- The electro-negative or non-metallic characters decreases from top to bottom in a group.

REACTIVITY OF NON- METALS:

(i)     In period- The tendency of an element to gain electrons increases in a period. So the reactivity

of non-metals increases from left to right in a period.

(ii)   In group- The tendency of an element to gain electrons decreases in a group. So the reactivity

of non-metals increases from top to bottom in a group.