Final answer:
Elements on the periodic table can be classified as metals, nonmetals, or metalloids. Metals are conductive and malleable, nonmetals are brittle and poor conductors, and metalloids have intermediate properties. Their classification depends on their location on the periodic table.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is asking to classify elements as metal, nonmetal, or metalloid based on their position in the periodic table. Each type of element has distinct properties and occupies specific areas on the table. Metals are generally shiny, malleable, ductile, and good conductors of heat and electricity, occupying the left and middle sections of the periodic table. Nonmetals, located mainly in the upper right section, aside from hydrogen, are often dull and brittle and poor conductors. Metalloids, or semimetals, exhibit properties in between metals and nonmetals, and can be found adjacent to the bold line in the right-hand portion of the table.
For example:
- Se (Selenium) is a nonmetal.
- Mg (Magnesium) is a metal and can be further classified as a main-group element.
- Ge (Germanium) is a metalloid.