Question

How do non-metals react with acids?

Answer 1

Acids are the species which accepts electrons, that is it is electron deficient. Therefore, acids react with another species which is an electron donor easily.
Bases are the species which are a donor of the electron, that is it is electron-rich. Therefore, the base reacts with another species which is the electron acceptor.
Non-metals are substances which do not show the metallic properties like conductivity, lustre, ductility, malleability etc. Generally, elements from the right of the periodic table behave as non-metals.

Complete step by step answer:
- Non-metals are generally observed on the right side of the periodic table. The reactivity of the non-metals depends on their electron acceptor and donor nature.
- Non-metals are the electron acceptor elements that accept electrons and form the anions. Acids are the proton donor species that produce $H^+$ ion. When an acid reacts with other species, then this ion accepts an electron from that species.
- Non-metals are acceptors of electrons hence, when they do not react because when they react with acids does not give the electron to the $H^+$ ion.
- Now, the reactivity of the species is the ability to react with another species. As non-metals do not react with acids we can say that they are non-reactive in acids. Therefore, non-metals do not react with acids.

Note: The elements in the periodic table are classified into three types metals, non-metals, and metalloids. The elements from the left of the periodic table show metallic properties while elements from the right of the periodic table show non-metallic properties. Some elements show properties intermediate between metals and non-metal are metalloids.