What are metaloids?
Metaloids is the term chemistry used to describe a group of chemical elements that share some physical and chemical properties of metals such as iron and copper, but cannot be classified as metals, because they also share some of the properties of non -metallic elements such as carbon and sulfur. Metalloids are usually said to consist of boron, arsenic, antimony, Telurium, Germania and silicon. Sometimes Polonium and Astatin are also included, but there is some scientific debate about whether they are real metaloids. These elements often have a fragile and shiny appearance, but there is no strict definition of properties and characteristics needed to define the element as a metaloid. The term semi-semi is sometimes also used to indicate metaloid elements, but this term includes not only chemical elements, but also compounds composed of several elements.
All metaloids are solids at normal pressure and temperature and some of the characteristics of metaloids such as shine or shine are similar to metal elements. OwnHowever, theness of metaloids, such as their ionization energy, electronegativity and chemical reactivity, differ in the periodic table from non -metallic and metal elements. For example, boron chemical reactivity is in some cases as a reaction of metal and as a non -metallic reaction in other cases, depending on what material it reacts.
Metalloids differ in density and at what temperature it is cooked or melted. Several metaloid elements are semiconductors, which means they can carry an electric charge. Boron, silicon and Germanium are semiconductors used in the production of electronics, such as the production of transistors, diodes and solar batteries. Silicon is a particularly important semiconductor material in the production of computer components such as computer chips. Silicon is also used in such a variety of products as hair paint, adhesives and car varnishes.
other metaloids are also used for růknows scientific and industrial purposes. Germanium is used in the production of transistor elements and for the production of spectroscopes and infrared detectors. Arsen is known as a poisonous substance, but can also be used as a doping agent, which means that it is added to semiconductors to improve their conductivity. Antimony is another doping agent and is also used in the production of storage batteries. Tellurium is often used to change the properties of various metals and alloys, such as copper or stainless steel, and is also used in the production of stained glass and ceramics.