Answer: Oxygen is a non-metal.
Step-by-step explanation:
Elements are distributed into 7 period and 18 Groups in a periodic table.
Elements are classified into three categories:
- Metals: They are called as metals because they loose electrons to attain stability. These elements belong from Group 1 to group 13 of the periodic table. They are hard and are mainly solid.
- Non-metals: They are called as non-metals because they gain electrons to attain stability. These elements belong from Group 15 to group 17 of the periodic table. They are soft and are mainly liquid or gases.
- Metalloids: They are called as metalloids because they show properties of both metals and non-metals. These elements belong from Group 14 of the periodic table.
Oxygen belongs to Group 16 and period 2 of the periodic table.
Hence, oxygen is a non-metal.