Mercury is classified as a metal because it follows all of the physical and chemical properties of other metals. Mercury just happens to have a very low melting point so at room temperature it is a liquid. Other metals have higher melting points so they remain solid at room temperature. Some metals, such as caesium, gallium and rubidium, have melting points that are just above room temperature and can easily become liquid. Mercury can be made solid, you just have to freeze it at a temperature of about -38 degrees Celsius (or about -36 degrees Fahrenheit).
Just like other metals, Mercury has a metallic luster, can conduct heat and electricity, is malleable and ductile (although you will need to freeze it to see these properties), and is opaque.
So, Mercury is a metal because it has all of the properties we use to define metals. It just so happens that one of its physical properties, melting point, is very low so we usually see it in its liquid form.
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