Final answer:
Chemists classify materials based on their physical properties such as color, volume, and density. By observing and measuring these properties, materials can be sorted into categories such as metals, nonmetals, and metalloids.
Step-by-step explanation:
Chemists classify materials based on their physical properties. Physical properties include characteristics such as color, volume, density, conduction of heat and electricity, malleability, ductility, melting point, and boiling point. By observing and measuring these properties, chemists can sort materials into different categories such as metals, nonmetals, and metalloids.