What is the difference between a metal and a non-metal?
Metals generally have properties like being shiny (lustrous), hard, malleable (can be hammered into sheets), ductile (can be drawn into wires), and good conductors of heat and electricity. Non-metals, on the other hand, are usually dull, brittle (break easily), and poor conductors of heat and electricity. They can exist as solids, liquids, or gases at room temperature.