Final answer:
Metals are solid, conductive, malleable, and ductile, while nonmetals are poor conductors and vary in physical states. Metalloids share properties of both metals and nonmetals. These can all be classified by their locations on the periodic table.
Step-by-step explanation:
Metals and nonmetals are characterized by different properties. Metals are usually solid (with the exception of mercury), conduct electricity, and are malleable (can be rolled into sheets) and ductile (can be drawn into wires). They largely occupy the left three-fourths of the periodic table. Nonmetals, on the other hand, do not conduct electricity (with the exception of carbon in the form of graphite) and appear in a variety of physical states including solids, liquids, and gasses. Nonmetals are typically found in the upper right-hand corner of the periodic table. Then, there are metalloids or semi-metals, which share physical properties of both metals and nonmetals, and often used in semiconductors like silicon and germanium.
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