Describe the properties of metals, non-metals, and metalloids

Metals are generally shiny, malleable, and hard. Metals are also good conductors of electricity. Examples of metals are Gold, Silver, Iron, Uranium, and Zinc. Non-metals do not conduct heat or electricity very well. Non-metals are typically brittle and are not easily molded into shapes. Example non-metal elements are Hydrogen and Carbon. Metalloids share characteristics of both metals and non-metals and are also called semimetals. Metalloids are typically semi-conductors, which means that they both insulate and conduct electricity. This semi-conducting property makes Metalloids very useful as a computer chip material. Examples of metalloid elements are Silicon and Boron.