Question

A student was testing an unknown element to see if it was a metal or non metal. The element was solid, dull in appearance, very brittle , and conducted electricity. What was this unknown element?

Answer 1

The element was one of the alkaline metals, the dull appearance comes from the metal reacting with oxygen and oxidizing its outer surface as alkaline are known for their enormous reaction with oxygen in the air and water.

Another ability of this group of elements is the ability to conduct electricity. And they are also easy to cut with a kitchen knife.