Does my element look okay?

I'm not sure if this is normal. I've used it a few times. I thought I bought a SS element but I could be wrong. It sure doesn't look like SS.

Clean it with a green scotch brite pad. If it heats water then it's fine.

The element itself is incoloy I believe. The SS elements typically have a SS base, where most elements you can buy do not.

Clean it with some vinegar and water.

Your had a zinc plating over the copper. Acidity eats away at it. Soak it in some star-san solution overnight and it'll be bright and shiny copper.

If it is a copper element the wort should clean it as the copper will keep dissolving into the acidic wort just as the zinc (This is why all copper pots and pans are lined with tin or stainless to prevent the leeching of possible toxic amounts into the food)..wort is acidic so it will react with the copper and can give your beer a metallic taste.. That said there are still a few antique copper breweries that havent converted to stainless... many are now are tin or stainless lined though like sierra nevada's. Copper is also good for binding sulfates and makes good food for yeast so...
I prefer the incolony stainless elements myself since they resist buildup better but many use these with no problems.

http://www.doityourself.com/stry/when-not-to-use-copper-utensils

http://www.thekitchn.com/food-science-explaining-reacti-73723