What is the difference between Metals and Non-metals?

Metals and nonmetals are both elements. They have standout properties, both in the chemical and physical ways. These properties, along with their location on the periodic table, help them be easily differentiated. Metals are on the left side of the table, while nonmetals are on the right side of the table.

One primary way they differ is in the number of electrons that they have in their outer shell. Metals have one to three electrons on the outer shell. Nonmetals have more, ranging from four to eight on their outer shell. Another difference between them is their levels of density. Metals can have a moderate to high density, while nonmetals density are lower.