Classifying Substances as Elements or

Compounds
  
Pure substances
are forms of matter that have a definite and
unchanging chemical composition. This means that the
substance is the same no matter where it is found.
Salt, water, aluminum foil, baking soda, carbon dioxide,
and oxygen are all pure substances because their
composition is the same no matter where you find
them. All elements and all compounds are pure
substances.
 Metals

a metal element is an element that form positive ions and has
metallic bonds. Most elements on the periodic table are metals.
Examples of metal elements include iron, copper, silver, mercury,
lead, aluminum, gold, platinum, zinc, nickel and tin
 Nonmetals
The fourteen elements effectively always
recognized as nonmetals are hydrogen, oxygen
nitrogen, and sulfur (4); the corrosive halogens
fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine (4); and the
noble gases helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon
and radon (6).
A metalloid is an element that has properties that
are intermediate between those of metals and
nonmetals. Metalloids can also be called semimetals
SILICON
Physical properties of Elements
Physical Properties of Elements

Luster-shiny in appearance 
Volume- amount of space occupied by an object
Color-the aspect of the appearance of objects and light sources
Mass-the amount of material it contains
Shape-appearance or form of a sample matter
Chemical Properties of Elements
Flammability-ability to be burnt easily or undergo combustion
Oxidation-to be rusted or being oxidized and form oxides
Toxicity-the relative degree of being poisonous
Acidity-the state of being acidic by nature
Stability-resistance to chemical change or to physical disintegration