Final answer:
A brittle and easily broken material is likely a nonmetal. Nonmetals are poor conductors, not malleable or ductile, and are located in the upper right of the periodic table. They vary in state at room temperature and include gases, liquids, and brittle solids.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a material is brittle and easily broken, it is most likely a nonmetal. Nonmetals are characterized by their brittleness when solid; they are poor conductors of heat and electricity and cannot be transformed into thin sheets or wires. Solid nonmetals shatter into small pieces when struck, in contrast to metals, which can be malleable and ductile, allowing them to be shaped or drawn into wires without breaking.
On the periodic table, nonmetals are located predominantly in the upper right-hand corner (except for hydrogen), while metals occupy the left three-fourths. The physical state of nonmetals at room temperature can vary, as they can exist as gases, liquids, or solids. For example, chlorine is a gaseous nonmetal, bromine is liquid, and iodine is a solid at room temperature.