Final answer:
Nonmetals are generally poor conductors of heat and electricity and tend to be brittle in the solid state. They have high electronegativity, gain electrons easily, and have low melting and boiling points.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of element that is generally a poor conductor of heat and electric current and tends to be brittle in the solid state is a nonmetal. Nonmetals are located on the right side of the periodic table and have properties opposite to that of metals. They have high electronegativity, tend to gain electrons, and have low melting and boiling points.
Learn more about Properties of nonmetals