Question

The three elements boron, silicon and germanium belong to:
A: Metals
B: Non-metals
C: Metalloids
D: All of the above

Answer 1

Hint: Boron is a chemical element with the atomic number $5.$ Silicon is an element with the and atomic number $14.$ Germanium has the atomic number $32.$ Metalloids also behave as non-metals chemically but many of their physical and chemical properties are intermediate.

Complete step by step answer:
So, here are the three elements that are Boron, silicon and germanium. They belong to metalloids.
Metalloid is a chemical element having properties in between or a mixture of both metals and non-metals.
And talking about metals and non-metals, metal is a material that is polished or shows a lustrous appearance and it also conducts electricity. Moreover, metals are malleable and ductile.
Non-metal is typically brittle when solid and usually has poor thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity. Moreover, non-metals are those which lack all the metallic attributes. They are good insulators of heat and electricity.
Metalloid is an element that has properties that are intermediate between those of metals and non-metals. They can also be called as semimetals. And on the periodic table, the elements coloured yellow which generally border the stair-step line are considered to be metalloids. Metalloids are brittle, metallic elements that exhibit semiconductor properties. Unlike metals, they are neither malleable nor ductile.

So, the correct answer is Option C.

Additional information:
The most abundant of the metalloids on the earth is silicon. And talking about the least abundant is tellurium which is one of the rarest stable elements on earth with an abundance similar to platinum.
To remember the metalloids in the periodic table in very easiest way is
It is the easiest way to memorize the metalloids. Metalloids are very unique.


Note: Metalloids have some properties in common with metals and with the non-metals. They have common characteristics like these elements look metallic, however they do not conduct electricity as well as metals so they are also called as semiconductors.
Boron is more non-metallic than silicon. This is just due to the accordance of the periodic table. As down the group, the metallic character increases. Boron is in the second period while silicon is present in the third period. So, it is more metallic than boron is more non-metallic.