Elements of the s and p blocks. Compare with nonmetal and metalloid . A metal is a substance that conducts heat and electricity, is shiny and reflects many colors of light, and can be hammered into sheets or drawn into wire. Metals lose electrons easily to form cations . A nonmetal is a substance that conducts heat and electricity poorly, is brittle or waxy or gaseous, and cannot be hammered into sheets or drawn into wire.
Nonmetals gain electrons easily to form anions .
The periodic law states that physical and chemical properties of the elements recur in a regular way when the elements are arranged in order of increasing atomic number. periodic table. An arrangement of the elements according to increasing atomic number that shows relationships between element properties. periodic trend. A regular variation in element properties with increasing atomic number that is ultimately due to regular variations in atomic structure. period. Rows in the periodic table are called periods. For example, all of the elements in the second row are referred to as 'second period elements'.