Question

Elements which possess characters of both metals and nonmetals are called ……………
A.Metalloids
B.Metals
C.Non metals
D.Minerals

Answer 1

Hint: We need to understand the concept and difference between metalloids, metals, non metals and minerals and define elements which possess characters of both metals and nonmetals. Certain chemical elements have a majority of qualities that fall somewhere between metals and nonmetals, or are a combination of both. All eleven elements are found in a diagonal section of the p-block ranging from boron at the upper left to astatine at the lower right on a normal periodic table. Some periodic tables have a line between metals from nonmetals, and metalloids are often found around this line.

Complete answer:
We need to know that a metalloid is a chemical element with a majority of characteristics that fall between those of metals and those of non-metals, or that are a combination of the two. Boron, silicon, germanium, arsenic, antimony, and tellurium are the six generally recognised metalloids. Carbon, aluminium, selenium, polonium, and astatine are five of the least often categorised elements.
Hence, the correct option is option “A”.
Option B is incorrect because metals are not categorized along with non-metals.
Option C is incorrect because non-metals are not categorized along with metals.
Option D is incorrect because mineral is a naturally occurring homogeneous solid having a defined chemical composition and a highly organised atomic arrangement, which is typically generated by inorganic processes.

Note:
We must note that non-metals were formerly referred to as metalloids. In the $1940$s and \[1960s\], it took on a new connotation as a category of components with intermediate or hybrid qualities. Metalloids are frequently referred to as semimetals, however this is incorrect since the term semimetal has a different meaning in physics than it does in chemistry. It refers to a certain type of electronic band structure of a material in physics. Only arsenic and antimony are semimetals in this respect, and are frequently referred to as metalloids.