Which of the following is a characteristic of nonmetals? nonmetals do not conduct electricity. nonmetals are often shiny and hard. nonmetals are often malleable. nonmetals are often ductile.

Option (a) is the correct answer.

Explanation:

Non-metals are the species which in order to complete their octet readily gain an electron.

For example, fluorine is a non-metal with atomic number 9 and its electronic distribution is 2, 7.

Hence, to attain stability it readily accepts an electron from a donor atom.

Some characteristics of non-metals are as follows.

Non-metals do not conduct electricity.

Non-metals are brittle in nature and they have a rough surface.

Non-metals are not malleable or ductile.

Thus, we can conclude that non-metals do not conduct electricity is a characteristic of non-metals.