why is hydrogen situated in the first group of the periodic table if its not a metal?

Answer 1

Because it only contains 1 electon in it's outer valence shell.

It contains 1 electron in it's s-orbital.

Answer 2

Hydrogen is a peculiar element, and would not fit anywhere, but to put it in the row where elements also have only one electron in their outer shell makes more sense than putting it with the halogens, where elements are one electron short of a full shell.
For the record, the periodic table is not about this being a metal and this not being one; it is only a representation of their electronic shells "filling up", with the consequences this has on their chemical properties. It just turns out that metal/non-metal characteristics follow this as well.
Also note that, under great pressure, hydrogen does behave like a metal. See link.

Answer 3

It is in Group 1, Period 1, of the periodic table of chemical elements and is classified as an alkali metal due to its one single electron in its outermost electron shell. I believe that it should be accepted as a metal because it shows every chemical property of metals at certain pressures and temperatures (except for giving off hydrogen gas and producing an oxide when reacted with HCl). Although it does not show almost any of the physical properties of most metals, it does show electrical conductivity when in liquid form.

Answer 4

It is at very low temperatures...like at the core of Jupiter.

From Wikipedia:

Jupiter may possess a dense, rocky core with a mass of up to twelve times the Earth's total mass. The core region is surrounded by dense metallic hydrogen, with further layers of liquid hydrogen and gaseous hydrogen.

Answer 5

Hydrogen easily loses its only electron to form H+ as cation.This and its low electronegativity are the main reasons why it is placed in the first group(1s group).However all metals in group 1 have higher electropositivity(even lower electronegativity)than hydrogen.This results in Hydrogen at times having to accept one electron to complete its duplet leading to formation of hydrides.
eg.NaH.

Answer 6

sustances are grouped on the periodic table first by atomic weight. then by reactional propperties. helium falls in teh first group. because it reacts to the same stuff as the other elements in that group do. not because it is 'like' a metal. because it isnt

Answer 7

it has one electron on the outer shell... just like the metals in the first group
If you think a little.... the are other groups formed of metals and non-metals... for example the 5th group: C(non-metal), Si and Ge(transitional metals), Sn and Pb(metals)

Answer 8

Because it forms a +1 ion like the other alkali earth metals.

Answer 9

It has a molecular weight of 1

Answer 10

because i has only one e!
Li, Na, K,...have also only one e at the outer ''way''