Final answer:
A shiny, ductile solid element is likely to be found on the left and central parts of the periodic table, classified as a metal. Metals exhibit characteristics such as being shiny and good conductors of heat and electricity, differentiating them from nonmetals and metalloids on the right side of the periodic table.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a solid element exhibits qualities such as being shiny, ductile, and malleable, as well as conducting heat and electricity well, it can be classified as a metal. These properties are characteristic of metals, which are typically found on the left and in the center of the periodic table, including the transition metals and the alkali and alkaline earth metals. The right side of the periodic table primarily contains nonmetals and metalloids, which do not share these metallic properties. Nonmetals are often dull, brittle in solid form, and poor conductors of heat and electricity.
Metals like iron exemplify these characteristics; being solid, shiny, and excellent conductors. Furthermore, due to metallic bonding, which involves the sharing of s valence electrons among atoms, metals are able to exhibit their ductility and malleability. Lastly, metals tend to have variable hardness and melting temperatures, adding to their distinct set of properties.