How to identify that element is …

The elements can be classified as metals, nonmetals, or metalloids.  Metals are good conductors of heat and electricity, and are malleable (they can be hammered into sheets) and ductile (they can be drawn into wire).  Most of the metals are solids at room temperature, with a characteristic silvery shine (except for mercury, which is a liquid).  Nonmetals are (usually) poor conductors of heat and electricity, and are not malleable or ductile; many of the elemental nonmetals are gases at room temperature, while others are liquids and others are solids.  The metalloids are intermediate in their properties.  In their physical properties, they are more like the nonmetals, but under certain circumstances, several of them can be made to conduct electricity.  These semiconductorsare extremely important in computers and other electronic devices. On many periodic tables, a jagged black line (see figure below) along the right side of the table separates the metals from the nonmetals.  The metals are to the left of the line (except for hydrogen, which is a nonmetal), the nonmetals are to the right of the line, and the elements immediately adjacent to the line are the metalloids.