Metals, Non-metals, Metalloids

Conductivity

rate at which a substance transfers thermal energy (heat) and electricity. Metals are good conductors.

Ductility

A property that describes if the material has the ability to be pulled into thin wire without breaking. Metals are ductile - an example is copper used for wiring in your home.

Malleability

A property that describes the ability of the material to be rolled or hammered into thin sheets. Metals are malleable - an easy example is aluminum.

Metal

An element that is typically a hard, shiny solid, is malleable, and is a good conductor of heat and electricity. They are usually a solid at room temperature and they're dense. Most elements are metals and they are found on the left side of zig-zag lline on the Periodic Table

Nonmetal

An element that is usually a gas at room temperature. They're brittle rather not malleable or ductile, ithey are poor conductors of heat and electricity, and they're typically not shiny (dull). Nonmetals are found to the right of the zig-zag line on the Periodic Table.

Metalloid

An element that shares some properties of metals and some of non-metals. They can be brittle or malleable, they are semi-conductors (conduct better than nonmetals but not as well as metals). They are found directly on or near the zig-zag line on the Periodic Table

Brittle

Likely to break, snap, or crack when subjected to pressure, Non-metals are usually brittle, example - charcoal or a rock.

Luster

The way the surface of a mineral reflects light; either shiny like aluminum (lustrous) or non-metallic (dull) like charcoal.

groups/families

Vertical columns on the periodic table