Although five times more elements are metals than nonmetals , two of the nonmetals -- hydrogen and helium -- make up over 99 per cent of the observable Universe , and one -- oxygen -- makes up close to half of the Earth 's crust , oceans and atmosphere .
Five times more elements are metals than nonmetals . Two of the nonmetals -- hydrogen and helium -- make up over 99 per cent of the observable Universe , and one -- oxygen -- makes up close to half of the Earth 's crust , oceans and atmosphere .