Question

Identify a metalloid from the following list of elements.
A. Carbon
B. Neon
C. Sodium
D. Tellurium

Answer 1

Hint: Hint: Metalloid is an element which possesses properties in between or a mixture of metals and non- metals. The element given in the is a silver-white metalloid and it possesses properties of both metals and non-metals in it. Atomic weight of the element is 127.6.

Complete step by step solution:
From your chemistry lessons you have learned about the metalloids and their features. Metalloids are chemical elements that form substances that have properties between those of typical metal and typical non-metal. Metalloids are composed of a very small group of elements with 7 elements in it. When you will see the periodic table you can easily find the metalloids which are represented with a zig–zag line and it is drawn from boron and aluminium to the boundaries between polonium and astatine and draw a line between metals and non- metals in the periodic table. In the periodic table the elements that are considered as metalloids are:
-Boron (B), Silicon (Si), Germanium (Ge), Arsenic (As), Antimony (Sb), Tellurium (Te), Polonium (Po)
Among the 3th to 16th group these 7 elements are classified as metalloids.
Metalloids have properties such as they are solids, have metallic luster, Brittle and act as a semiconductor in nature and all these properties are intermediate between metals and nonmetals. Among the given options only tellurium is a metalloid because its properties lie between metal and non-metal and it is a silver-white metalloid used as a cast iron to prevent thermal shocks. Sodium is a metal and neon and carbon is a non-metal.

Thus the correct option is (D).

Note: Metalloids form metallic and non-metallic allotropes and metalloids mix with metals to form alloys. The ionization energy and electronegativity of metalloids are between metals and nonmetals. Tellurium is also used as an additive in the creation of alloys. Metalloids are also used to form glasses.