The Metalloid Mystery
Identify elements that are neither metal nor non-metal.
What this lesson covers
Why it matters
Silicon sits in the periodic table's border zone, wearing a metallic shine but behaving like a brittle non-metal.
Predict first
Why is silicon classified as a metalloid rather than a metal?
Metalloids bridge the gap: silicon is a semiconductor (unlike metals) and brittle (unlike malleable metals).
- It conducts electricity as well as copper
- It has properties intermediate between metals and non-metals — correct
- It is a liquid at room temperature
- It reacts violently with water
What you do
Sort each element into Metal, Metalloid, or Non-metal. Metalloids like silicon sit on the border — part shiny like a metal, part brittle like a non-metal.
Check yourself
Which property makes silicon useful in computer chips?
Silicon's conductivity can be controlled, making it ideal for transistors.
How does silicon's oxide (SiO₂) differ from sodium oxide (Na₂O)?
Metalloids often form amphoteric or acidic oxides, while metals form basic oxides.
- It is a perfect conductor
- It is a semiconductor — correct
- It is magnetic
- SiO₂ is acidic; Na₂O is basic — correct
- Both are acidic
- Both are basic
- SiO₂ is basic; Na₂O is acidic