Element A is soft, brittle and does not conduct electricity. Element B is hard, malleable and 'ductile; and also conducts electricity. Which of the two elements, A or B, is a non-metal?

Element A is a nonmetal. Since, it is soft and brittle in nature.

Element B is a metal because it is malleable and ductile and it also conducts electricity. The property of metals which allows metals to be hammered into thin sheets is called Malleability. Due this unique property, metals can be flattened into thin sheets by hammering and rolling. The property of metals which enables them to be drawn into wires is called Ductility. Due to this property metals can be stretched without breaking and drawn into thin wires. All of these metals can be used to make wires and sheets.


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