How can you tell which elements are more metallic than others by just looking at the periodic table?

Question

xishem · Answer

Metals tend to have a low attraction with their valence electrons.

As you move down the periodic table, there are more and more electron shells in the atom, and therefore the further down you move on the table, the lower attraction the nucleus has to the outer shell electrons.

As you move to the left, the nucleus is less positively charged (fewer protons), and so the attraction between the nucleus and the outer shell electrons also decreases.

So, in conclusion, as you move down and left, elements become more metallic.