Question

Which of the following is a metalloid?
(A) Antimony
(B) Oxygen
(C) Rhodium
(D) Gold

Answer 1

Hint: A metalloid is any chemical element which has properties in between those of metals and nonmetals or we can say a mixture of them.

Complete step by step solution:
A metalloid is a type of chemical element whose properties lie between the properties of metals and nonmetals. There are a total 11 metalloids out of which 6 are commonly known and five elements are less frequently classified.
(A) Antimony: It is one of the most commonly known metalloids which is a member of the 15th group of periodic elements having atomic number 51 and represented by the symbol Sb. It is a lustrous grey metalloid. It is used in medicines and cosmetics.
(B) Oxygen: Oxygen is a non-metallic element of group 16 of the periodic table having atomic number 8 and electronic configuration\[1{{s}^{2}}2{{s}^{2}}2{{p}^{4}}\].
(C) Rhodium: Rhodium is metal in nature. It is a chemical element represented by the symbol Rh and has an atomic number of 45.
(D) Gold: It is a transition metal and a group 11 element represented by the symbol Au and has an atomic number 79 which makes it one of the higher atomic number elements that occur naturally.

Thus, (A) (Antimony) is the right answer.

Note: Metalloids are sometimes called semimetals which means they can represent the properties of both metals and nonmetals. Typical metalloids have a metallic appearance, but they are brittle and only fair conductors of electricity.