The question is a bit tricky, but here's the breakdown:

* Sodium is an element. It's a fundamental building block of matter and appears on the periodic table.

* Metals are a category of elements. They share certain characteristics, like being shiny, malleable, ductile, and good conductors of heat and electricity.

* Sodium is a metal. It fits the criteria of being shiny, soft (malleable), and a good conductor.

So, while "sodium" is the element itself, the property of being a metal is one of its characteristics.