At room temperature, a certain element is found to be a shiny, silver-colored solid that is a poor conductor of electricity. When a sample of the element is hit with a hammer, it shatters. Is the element likely to be a metal, a nonmetal, or a semimetal?

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Identify the physical properties described: shiny, silver-colored solid, poor conductor of electricity, and shatters when hit with a hammer.

Compare these properties to typical characteristics of metals, nonmetals, and semimetals. Metals are usually good conductors of electricity and malleable (don't shatter), nonmetals are poor conductors and brittle (shatter), and semimetals have properties intermediate between metals and nonmetals.

Assess the conductivity: Since the element is a poor conductor of electricity, it is less likely to be a metal.

Evaluate the response to mechanical stress: The element shatters when hit with a hammer, indicating it is brittle, a characteristic more common in nonmetals.

Conclude the likely category of the element based on the given properties: The element is likely a nonmetal due to its poor conductivity and brittleness.

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Properties of Metals, Nonmetals, and Semimetals

Metals are typically shiny, good conductors of electricity, and malleable, while nonmetals are often dull, poor conductors, and brittle. Semimetals, or metalloids, exhibit properties of both metals and nonmetals. Understanding these characteristics helps in classifying elements based on their physical and electrical properties.

Malleability and Brittleness

Malleability refers to the ability of a material to be hammered or rolled into thin sheets without breaking, a property common in metals. In contrast, brittleness is the tendency of a material to shatter or break when subjected to stress, which is characteristic of nonmetals. The behavior of the element when struck with a hammer indicates its classification.

Electrical Conductivity

Electrical conductivity is a measure of how well a material can conduct an electric current. Metals are generally good conductors due to the presence of free-moving electrons, while nonmetals are poor conductors. The element's poor conductivity at room temperature suggests it is not a metal, guiding the classification process.