Question

In which class of element is there a greater range of properties, the metal or the nonmetals?

Answer 1

The nonmetals have a greater range of properties compared to metals.

Step-by-step explanation:

The greater range of properties is found in the nonmetals.

A metal is a substance that is shiny, typically silvery in color, an excellent conductor of electricity and heat, malleable, and ductile. On the other hand, a nonmetal is typically dull, a poor conductor of electricity and heat, and solid nonmetals are very brittle. Nonmetals, except for hydrogen, are clustered in the upper right-hand corner of the periodic table.

Examples of nonmetals include oxygen, carbon, sulfur, and nitrogen, while examples of metals include iron, copper, gold, and silver.

Answer 2

All metals are good electrical and heat conductors.
With non-metals you have graphite as a good conductor, several semi conductors such as silicon and numerous non-conductors.

At STP, metals only come as a metallic (funnily enough) white coloured solid apart from mercury, copper and gold.

Non-metals come as a gas (eg helium, hydrogen, etc.), liquid (bromine), and solid (eg diamond) at STP and a variety of colours. Yellow sulphur, green chlorine, purple iodine, etc.