Talk:Nonmetal

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Are the noble poosPeriodic table/Metals and Non Metals says yes, but I don't really see why. They break the periodicity pattern of increasing electronegativity; they might as well be placed to the left of the alkali metals as to the right of the halogens. -Smack 20:46 20 Jun 2003 (UTC)

"Non-metal" is a pretty woolly, general term, but noble gasses tick about 90% of its boxes.--feline1 16:13, 15 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Metallicity of carbon

Why is carbon a non-metal if it has metallic allotropes?

What do you mean? Graphite conducts electricity but it's not generally considered "metallic". —Keenan Pepper 22:33, 20 May 2006 (UTC)

Graphite is a bit metalloid, perhaps. All these things are shades of grey. It doesn't really matter! They're just useful terms and concepts, not rigid laws.--feline1 16:13, 15 January 2007 (UTC)

Graphite conducts electricity, but it does it in a different fashion than metals do. It has unbonded electrons which are not part of a metallic bond. This is why it is a better conductor the hotter it gets, whereas metals tend to be poorer conductors when hot. So it is a conductor but not due to metallic properties.

[edit] Carbon

Carbon actually has a higher melting and boiling point than any metal, right? Boron is pretty much up there also. I do not think melting and boiling point is much of a guide for determining metals vs nonmetals.