Metalloid, or semi metal is a term used in
chemistry when classifying the
chemical elements. On the basis of their general
physical and
chemical properties, nearly every
element in the
periodic table can be termed either a
metal or a
nonmetal. However, a few elements with intermediate properties are referred to as
metalloids (from the
Greek metallon = "metal" and
eidos = "sort"). They are sometimes called (and confused with)
semiconductors and
semimetals. The
amphoteric line separates metalloids from nonmetals in the
periodic table.
There is no rigorous definition of the term, but the following properties are usually considered characteristic of metalloids
The concepts of metalloid and semiconductor should not be confused. Metalloid refers to the properties of certain elements in relation to the periodic table. Semiconductor refers to the physical properties of materials (including alloys, compounds) and there is only partial overlap between the two.
The following elements are generally considered metalloids[1][2]
