Question

According to the periodic table, how many elements are metalloids?

Answer 1

Hint Metalloids are the chemical elements which show the properties of both the metals and non-metals. In the modern periodic table they are represented with a zig-zig line and they are separated from metals and non-metals.

Complete step by step answer:
- In the question it is asked according to the periodic table how many elements are considered as metalloids.
- Metalloids look like metals but behave like non-metals.
- Physically metalloids are shiny in nature and brittle in nature.
- There are six metalloids present in the periodic table and they are Boron (B), silicon (Si), arsenic (As), germanium (Ge), tellurium (Te) and antimony (Sb).
- Metalloids have intermediate electronegativity values when compared to metals and non-metals.
- Generally metalloids have no use in their pure form but after mixing the metalloids they form an alloy which has a vast application in the field of chemistry.
- Chemically metalloids are weak nonmetals and have intermediate ionization energy lies in between the ionization energy of metals and nonmetals.
- Metalloids are used in nutritional and medicinal fields also.
- Therefore according to the periodic table there are six elements called metalloids and are present in the periodic table.

Note: There are few elements called metalloids very rarely and they are aluminum (Al), carbon (C), astatine (At), selenium (Se) and polonium (Po). Metalloids are used to prepare catalysts, semiconductors, biological agents and act as flame retardants.