Question

Out of sodium, chlorine and silicon which one is metalloid?

Answer 1

Hint: A metalloid is a type of chemical element which has properties between metals and non - metals. On the left hand side of periodic table metals are present and on the right side non - metals are present in the periodic table.

Complete answer:
In the given question silicon is a metalloid and sodium is a metal and chlorine is a non - metal. The elements which can lose the electrons are called metals. The atomic number of sodium is 11. Hence its electronic configuration is 2,8,1. So its outermost orbit has 1 electron. So it will lose 1 electron to acquire noble gas configuration whereas the atomic number of chlorine is 17 and its electronic configuration is 2,8,7. So it will gain 1 electron to acquire noble gas configuration. Hence it is a non - metal. Atomic number of silicon is 14 and its electronic configuration is 2,8,4. Chemically it neither loses 4 electrons nor gains 4 electrons, rather it will share 4 electrons with other element and physically silicon is metalloid it has less but is brittle in nature. As its properties number in between metal non - metal so it is a metalloid.

Note: Silicon is used extensively in computer chips and other electronics because its electrical conductivity is in between that of a metal and a non - metal.