Here's why:

* Properties: Samarium is a silvery-white, hard, and brittle metal. It's also a good conductor of electricity and heat, which are typical characteristics of metals.

* Location on the Periodic Table: Samarium is located in the lanthanide series, which is part of the transition metals.

Metalloids, on the other hand, have properties that lie somewhere between metals and nonmetals. They are semiconductors and often have a shiny appearance but are not as malleable or ductile as metals.