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Metals, Nonmetals, and Metalloids

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State

Elements sort into three classes by conductivity: metals conduct heat and electricity well, nonmetals conduct poorly, and metalloids sit in between.

Show

Copper wiring conducts electricity efficiently because copper is a metal; the sulfur in a match head does not, being a nonmetal.

Watch for

This three-way split is a starting classification — sharper trends tied to atomic structure are covered later in the course.