Semimetal

A semimetal or a metalloid is a chemical element. It has some properties like a metal. Some properties are like a nonmetal. It might be shiny, but brittle. It might be dull, but conducts electricity. It might be very hard, but shiny. The most common semimetal is silicon. Silicon has electrical conductivity between metals and nonmetals. It is a semiconductor.

Gallery

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  Antimony, a semimetal, can be found naturally in the earth.

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  Arsenic is another semimetal that is very toxic.

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  Tellurium in a bottle. Tellurium sometimes is found naturally.

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  Germanium in a tube. Germanium can be used to make semiconductors. Silicon is used more.

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  Silicon crystal. Silicon is used to make semiconductors.

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  Boron in a tube. Boron is very hard.

Polonium and astatine are semimetals, but they are radioactive and almost impossible and very dangerous to get.