Metals, Nonmetals, and Semimetals/Metalloids

[Michelle Pham_3H]

I think I need to refresh my memory on periodic table trends. I'm familiar with the inert gases and alkali metals, but how can you determine which category (metal, nonmetal, semimetal/metalloid) an element falls into just by looking at the periodic table? Thanks in advance!

[Abigail Yap 2K]

Most of the periodic tables I've seen are color coded for these categories. I believe this is just something we memorize or will have given to us.

[Tara Foroohar 3K]

Also, if you Google the metalloid staircase, there's a distinct pattern in the table with the metalloids being on this staircase and nonmetals tot eh right of r and metals to the left.