Metalloids

Metalloids

Metalloids (pronunciation: /ˈmɛtəlɔɪdz/), also known as semi-metals, are a group of elements in the periodic table that have properties in between, or that are a mixture of, metals and nonmetals.

Etymology

The term "metalloid" originates from the Latin word "metallum" meaning metal and the Greek suffix "-oid" meaning "like" or "resembling".

Characteristics

Metalloids are usually too brittle to have any structural uses. They are semiconductors of electricity, have a metallic luster, and are capable of forming alloys with metals. Most metalloids have a shiny, metallic appearance but are brittle, unlike metals.

Examples

The most commonly recognized metalloids are boron, silicon, germanium, arsenic, antimony, tellurium, and polonium.

Uses

Metalloids have various uses in industries. For example, silicon is used in computer chips and solar panels, germanium is used in transistors and semiconductors, and arsenic is used in pesticides and ammunition.

Related Terms

• Semiconductor: A substance, usually a solid chemical element or compound, that can conduct electricity under some conditions but not others, making it a good medium for the control of electrical current.
• Alloy: A substance composed of two or more metals, or of a metal or metals with a nonmetal, intimately mixed, as by fusion or electrodeposition.
• Periodic Table: A tabular arrangement of the chemical elements, organized on the basis of their atomic numbers, electron configurations, and recurring chemical properties.

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