Final answer:
In the periodic table, elements are classified as metals, nonmetals, or metalloids. Metals are to the left of the zigzag line and include elements like iron; nonmetals are on the upper right plus hydrogen, like oxygen and carbon; and metalloids line the zigzag boundary with intermediate properties.
Step-by-step explanation:
Classification of Elements: Metals, Nonmetals, and Metalloids
The periodic table sorts elements into groups based on their chemical properties, and one of the fundamental classifications is between metals, nonmetals, and metalloids. The metals are located to the left and below the heavy zigzag line on the periodic table, encompassing about three-fourths of the known elements, such as iron (Fe) and copper (Cu). These elements are characterized by being lustrous, good conductors of electricity, malleable, and ductile.
On the other side, nonmetals are located on the upper right corner of the periodic table, plus hydrogen, which is the only nonmetal found outside this area. Nonmetals, which include elements like oxygen (O) and carbon (C), typically have the opposite properties of metals: they are dull and poor conductors of heat and electricity, as well as being brittle when solid. The elements that lie along the zigzag line are known as metalloids or semimetals, exhibitting properties that are intermediate between those of metals and nonmetals.
Therefore, if an element is found to the right of the zigzag line on the periodic table (with the exception of hydrogen), it is classified as a nonmetal. For example, carbon (C), found in this region, is a nonmetal important to life.