What are Metalloids?

Metalloids are chemical elements whose physical and chemical properties are somewhere between metal and non-metal categories.

Examples of Metalloids

The 7 widely recognized metalloids are –

• Boron
• Silicon
• Antimony
• Germanium
• Arsenic
• Tellurium
• Pollanium 

All seven of these elements are found in the regular periodic table in a diagonal region of the p-block elements – extending from boron (on the upper left) to astatine (on the lower right). 

Characteristics of Metalloids

Metalloids have metallic appearances. However, they are brittle.

• Metalloids look like metals but act as non–metals chemically. They form metallic alloys.
• These elements usually have intermediate to strong electrical conductivity. 
• They have electronic band structures similar to semiconductors.
• Metalloids generally have intermediate ionisation energies and electronegativity values. 
• Metalloids can form amphoteric acidic oxides.

Metalloids are ideal semiconductors. The reactivity of metalloids is based on the properties of the elements they react with.

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