How do you classify elements into metals and non-metals on the basis of their electronic

Question

(i) How do you classify elements into metals and non-metals on the basis of their electronic configuration? Choose metal and non-metal out of the following:

(ii) What type of bond will be formed if

(a) 'A' combines with 'B'? (b) 'A' combines with 'E'?
(c) 'C' combines with 'E'? (d) 'D' combines with 'E'?

Answer 1

(i) Elements which contain 1 to 3 electrons in their outermost shell are metals. 

Elements containing 4 to 7 electrons in their valence shell are non-metals.
Electronic configurations:

Hence A and C are metals whereas, B, D and E are non-metals.
(ii) Type of bonds
(a) 'A' is metal and 'B' is non-metal, so the bond formed will be ionic.

(d) 'D' is a non-metal and E is also a non-metal, so the bond formed will be covalent.