The ease with which an element loses one or more of its electrons is called its metallic character. On the other hand, the ease with which an element gains one or more electrons is called its non-metallic character. It mainly depends upon atomic size and ionisation potential. More the atomic size and lesser the ionisation potential, more is the metallic character. However, the reverse is true for non-metallic character of an element. In a group atomic size increases while ionisation potential decreases as we move down a group. Thus, down a group metallic character increases while non-metallic character decreases. For example,
The first five elements of Group 14 are C (At. No. = 6), Si (At. No. = 14), Ge (At. No. = 32), Sn (At. No. = 50) and Pb (At. No. = 68).
Out of these C (At. No. = 6) is a non-metal, Si (At. No. = 14) and Ge (At. No. = 32) are metalloids while Sn
(At. No. = 50) —and Pb (At. No. = 68) are metals.
