What is Metalloids? | Types, Definition, Structure, Function & Facts
What is Metalloids?
The metalloids are a group of elements in the periodic table. They are located to the right of the post-conversion metal and to the left of the non-metal. Metallic metals share some properties with metals and some with non-metals.
What Elements are Metalloids?
Elements commonly considered to be metalloids include boron, silicon, germanium, arsenic, antimony, and tellurium. Other elements such as selenium and polonium are also sometimes included.
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What are the similar properties of Metalloids?
Metalloids share many similar properties including:
Outwardly they look like metal, but are brittle.
They can often form alloys with metals.
Some metalloids such as silicon and germanium become conductors under specific conditions. These are called semiconductors.
They are solids at standard conditions.
They are mostly non-metals in their chemical behavior.
Order of Abundance
The most abundant metal on Earth is silicon, which is the second most abundant element in the earth’s crust after oxygen. The least abundant is tellurium, one of the rarest stable elements on Earth with an abundance similar to platinum. Below we have provided the list of metalloids by abundance in the Earth’s crust:
Interesting Facts about Metalloids
Unlike other element families such as noble gases, alkali metals, and halogens, metalloids form a diagonal line on the periodic table rather than a vertical line.
Silicon is one of the most important materials used to manufacture electronic devices such as computers and mobile phones.
Arsenic is known to be one of the most toxic elements.
Antimony and tellurium are mainly used in metal alloys. Tellurium takes its name from the Latin word “tellus” which means “earth”.
Antimony has been known since ancient times and was used by the ancient Egyptians as a cosmetic.
Antimon gets its name from the Greek word “anti monos” which means “not alone”.