The elements are generally divided into three categories:
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Metals - Elements that are typically good conductors of heat and electricity, malleable, ductile, and have a shiny appearance. They tend to lose electrons in chemical reactions.
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Nonmetals - Elements that are generally poor conductors of heat and electricity, can be gases, liquids, or brittle solids at room temperature, and often gain or share electrons in chemical reactions.
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Metalloids - Elements that have properties intermediate between metals and nonmetals. They can exhibit characteristics of both categories and are often semiconductors, which makes them important in electronics.
These categories help in understanding and predicting the behavior of elements in chemical reactions and their physical properties.
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