Final answer:
The largest class of elements on the Periodic Table are metals, characterized by their shiny appearance and conductive properties. Nonmetals, such as carbon, are fewer in number and exhibit opposite characteristics like poor conductivity. Metalloids are the intermediate elements with properties of both metals and nonmetals.
Step-by-step explanation:
When it comes to the classification of elements, the majority that populate the Periodic Table are metals. Metals like iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) are known for their distinctive characteristics—they are shiny, excellent conductors of electricity and heat, malleable (which means they can be rolled into sheets), and ductile (which implies that they can be drawn into wires).
In contrast, nonmetal elements such as hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) exhibit different properties. These elements are typically dull and poor conductors of electricity and heat. One prominent example of a nonmetal is carbon (C), which is essential to life. Looking at the Periodic Table, carbon is classified as a nonmetal.
The metalloids, or semi-metals, such as silicon and germanium, possess properties that are intermediate between metals and nonmetals. They are located along a staircase line on the Periodic Table. Metalloids have moderate electrical conductivity and are important in the realm of semiconductor technology.