Most nonmetals are found in the gaseous state at room temperature. Elements such as nitrogen, oxygen, and chlorine are all gases under standard conditions. However, there are a few nonmetals that exist as solids, like sulfur and phosphorus, and one, bromine, that is a liquid. The diversity in states of matter among nonmetals is primarily due to their molecular structures and bonding characteristics.
Nonmetals typically have high electronegativities and ionization energies, which contribute to their tendency to form covalent bonds, often resulting in gaseous or soft solid forms. In contrast to metals, which are mainly solid at room temperature (with the exception of mercury), nonmetals exhibit a greater variation in physical state, highlighting their unique properties on the periodic table.