Final answer:
Carbon is classified as a non-metal, demonstrated by its brittle and black characteristics that cannot be reshaped into sheets or wires, despite conducting heat and electricity well.
Step-by-step explanation:
The classification of carbon within the periodic table is as a non-metal. Despite some metallic properties, such as conductivity of heat and electricity, carbon is predominantly characterized by its non-metal attributes. It is a black and brittle substance that is unable to be formed into sheets or wires. The elemental form of carbon cannot display the malleability or ductility typical of metals, which include being able to be beaten into thin sheets or drawn into wires. When looking at the periodic table, non-metals are located in the upper right-hand corner, excluding hydrogen, which is on the left side but still considered a non-metal. Other properties, such as dullness and poor conduction in forms other than graphite, reinforce carbon's classification as a non-metal.