Non-metallic character is the tendency of an element to behave as a non-metal, for example by gaining electrons and forming acidic oxides. It increases with increasing electronegativity, and so increases across a period and decreases down a group. It is the opposite trend to metallic character.

非金属性是元素表现为非金属的倾向,例如得到电子和形成酸性氧化物。它随电负性增大而增强,故沿一个周期增强、沿一个族向下减弱。它与金属性的变化趋势相反。