Question
Question: What are three metalloids on the periodic table?...
What are three metalloids on the periodic table?
Solution
Metalloid comes under the category of elements which possess the basic properties that lie between the properties of metals and non-metals. There is no specific or standard definition to explain metalloids as well as there are no standard criteria to distinguish metalloids from metal and non-metals.
Complete answer:
Metalloids have properties in common with metal and non-metals but have some differences.
PROPERTY | METAL | NON-METAL | METALLOID |
---|---|---|---|
Physical state | Solid, liquid | Solid, liquid or gas | Brittle solids |
Luster | Highly lustrous | Low | low |
Conductivity | Good conductor | Poor conductor | Conductor only in certain conditions |
Tensile strength | Highly tensile in nature | Low tensile | Low tensile |
Sonority | sonorous | Non-sonorous | Non-sonorous |
Corrosive property | Highly corrosive in nature | They have low corrosive tendency | They are used to protect corrosion of metal by applying them as an alloy. |
Melting point | Sharp and high melting point | Low melting point | Melting point is in between metal and non-metal |
Location on periodic table | s,p,d,f blocks | In s,p blocks | Located only in p block |
Thermal conductivity | high thermal conductivity | Low thermal conductivity | Thermal conductivity in between the metals and non-metals |
Chemical properties | Highly reactive | Low reactivity | Low reactivity- chemical nature of metalloids is similar to non-metals. |
Examples | Aluminium, gold, platinum, silver | Carbon, phosphorous, sulphur, nitrogen | Silicon, germanium, antimony |
From the above table we can conclude that metalloids have in between properties of metal and non-metals. Metalloids exist are too brittle in nature and therefore they are not used in structural uses. Metalloids are located in p orbital. When we move top to bottom metallic character increases therefore, metalloids are present in the middle of the periodic table.
Note:
Metalloids are capable of forming an alloy in a particular proportion like silicon-germanium. Metals are also known as semi-metals. They are represented as stair steps in the periodic table. Other metalloids are boron, arsenic, tellurium selenium etc.