Final answer:
The appearance of an element is determined by its chemical properties, such as physical state, reactivity, and ability to chemically bond with other elements.
Step-by-step explanation:
The appearance of an element is determined by its chemical properties, such as its physical state at room temperature (solid, liquid, or gas), its reactivity, and its ability to combine and chemically bond with other elements. These properties are determined by the number of protons and electrons in the element's atoms. For example, gold is a solid element with distinctive properties that can be observed by magnifying a section of its surface.