Can any one give some examples of elements which are both metals and nonmetals?
Metalloids Metalloid 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. (In Greek metallon = metal and eidos = sort) There is no rigorous definition of the term, however the following properties are usually considered characteristic of metalloids: metalloids often form amphoteric oxides. metalloids often behave as semiconductors (B,Si,Ge) to semimetals (eg. Sb). 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: Boron (B) Silicon (Si)
