and that of the latter?
hydrogen, helium, nitrogen, oxygen,  fluorine, neon
Nonmetal
Seventeen elements are generally classified as nonmetals: most are gases (hydrogen, helium, nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine, neon, chlorine, argon, krypton, xenon and radon); one is a liquid (bromine); and a few are solids (carbon, phosphorus, sulfur, selenium, and iodine).
what does the column in the periodic table mean The columns, called groups, contain elements with similar chemical behaviours. what is this tabular structure used for? To classify chemical elements which are arranged by atomic number, electron configuration, and recurring chemical properties. The structure of the table shows periodic trends. does this contain only metals? No, it also contains metalloids, nonmetals and noble gases. where are the first one placed in the table? Somewhere between metals and nonmetals what are the different types of the former substance mentioned by you? Boron, silicon, germanium, arsenic, antimony
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Nonmetal [SEP] Introduction
In chemistry, a nonmetal (or non-metal) is a chemical element that mostly lacks the characteristics of a metal. Physically, a nonmetal tends to have a relatively low melting point, boiling point, and density. A nonmetal is typically brittle when solid and usually has poor thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity. Chemically, nonmetals tend to have relatively high ionization energy, electron affinity, and electronegativity. They gain or share electrons when they react with other elements and chemical compounds. Seventeen elements are generally classified as nonmetals: most are gases (hydrogen, helium, nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine, neon, chlorine, argon, krypton, xenon and radon); one is a liquid (bromine); and a few are solids (carbon, phosphorus, sulfur, selenium, and iodine).