Final answer:
Elements on the periodic table are classified as metals, nonmetals, or metalloids. Metals are shiny and good conductors, nonmetals are dull and poor conductors, and metalloids exhibit intermediate properties, particularly useful in semiconductor technology.
Step-by-step explanation:
The elements found on the periodic table can be categorized into three main types: metals, nonmetals, and metalloids (or semimetals). Metals are generally lustrous (shiny) and are typically silver-colored, although not always. Metals are known for being excellent conductors of electricity and heat and are also malleable (they can be beaten into sheets) and ductile (they can be drawn into wires). In contrast, nonmetals are usually dull in appearance and act as poor conductors of heat and electricity, and solid nonmetals are brittle.
Moving on to metalloids, these elements have properties that are intermediate between those of metals and nonmetals. They are located along the staircase line on the periodic table, with some exceptions such as aluminum and polonium, which are considered metals. Metalloids, such as silicon and germanium, are crucial for semiconductor technology because of their conductivity that increases with temperature.
In terms of location in the periodic table, metals occupy the left three-fourths, while nonmetals are clustered in the upper-right corner, excluding hydrogen. The characteristics of these elements are essential for various applications, from electrical circuits to structural materials.