Question

Give two examples of metalloid.

Answer 1

Hint: Metalloids are a very small group of elements that are present in the periodic table, along the zig-zag line that is seen to distinguish metals from non-metals and we can see in periodic table that it is drawn from between boron and aluminum to the border between polonium and astatine elements.

Step by step solution:
- Let's see elements that are considered to be metalloids:
Boron (B), Silicon (Si), Germanium (Ge), Arsenic (As), Antimony (Sb), Tellurium (Te), Polonium (Po). Here we can see that these seven elements were classified as metalloids in the periodic table from the 13th to the 16th group of p-block.
- Let's discuss about some of the properties of Metalloids-
-Metalloids are found to have properties that are intermediate between metals and non-metals. We can say that they have properties that are difficult to characterize. In the physical properties of metalloids, it is found that these have solid state of matter, and are having semi conductive nature.
- We should also remember that the reactivity of metalloids is dependent on the properties of elements they are reacting with. Their next property that is electronegativity and ionization energy are found to be between metals and non-metals.
- These metalloids are found to be capable of forming glasses, which we can find economically very important.

- We can also find that these when mixed with metals, form alloys. From this various metallic and nonmetallic allotropes are formed.

- We can see that there are various metalloids which contract when they melt and these also form compounds when they react with the halogens.


Additional information:

- let’s see the uses of some of the metalloid-

- uses of Boron- nowadays boron is widely used in fireworks as it has a quality of changing color into green when it burns. It can be used in the form of boric acid and can be used as a cleaning agent.
- uses of Silicon – as we know silicon is having wide scope in computer chips as it is a semiconductor.
- uses of Arsenic- here, in India we can find that arsenic is widely used in the agriculture field, used by farmers as an insecticides and also used in the preservation of wood.

Note:
- Economically we can see that worldwide metalloids are of very important use, these are having wide applications and we have also discussed the various properties of them, which one can use in further research as well.

- One should also know that silicon is the most abundant metalloid in earth’s crust and is the second most abundant element.