Metals can be differentiated from non-metals from their appearance. Metals are lustrous while non-metals are not shiny. Most of the metals are flexible and malleable. This means that metals can be stretched into sheets. Non-metals on the other hand are hard and brittle. While metals are good conductors of electricity and heat, non-metals do not conduct either electricity or heat in normal conditions.
Apart from metals and non-metals, there is a third category known as metalloids or semi metals. These elements have the properties of both metals and non-metals. They are good conductors of heat and electricity, but they are not strong or workable like real metals. Carbon and silicon are metalloids.
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