Final answer:
Nonmetals are elements that are generally poor conductors of heat and electricity. They have properties opposite to metals and can exist in all three states of matter. Nonmetals are brittle in their solid state and have lower melting points than metals.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the chemical world, nonmetals are elements that are generally poor conductors of heat and electricity. Most properties of nonmetals are the opposite of metals. Nonmetals can exist in all three states of matter, with the majority being gases like nitrogen and oxygen, some being liquids like bromine, and a few being solids like carbon and sulfur. Nonmetals are brittle in their solid state and have melting points lower than those of metals.