Which of the following is an example of metalloids?

BHU NO - 12 April 2024

General Knowledge

Easy

Appeared in: BHU NO - 12 April 2024

Explanation

Boron is classified as a metalloid, an element that possesses properties intermediate between those of metals and non-metals.
Metalloids, also known as semi-metals, are found along the 'staircase' or zig-zag line on the periodic table that divides metals from non-metals.
Key properties of metalloids like Boron include being semiconductors of electricity, which makes them essential in the manufacturing of electronic components.
Other examples of metalloids include Silicon (Si), Germanium (Ge), Arsenic (As), Antimony (Sb), and Tellurium (Te).

Option A: Iodine is a halogen (Group 17) and is classified as a non-metal. It is a solid at room temperature but has non-metallic properties.
Option B: Hydrogen is the lightest element and is definitively classified as a non-metal, located at the top of Group 1.
Option C: Coke is not a chemical element but a high-carbon substance derived from coal. Carbon, the primary element in coke, is a non-metal.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Classification of elements into metals, non-metals, and metalloids as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding elemental properties is foundational for pharmacology and toxicology. For example, arsenic, a metalloid, is a known poison that nurses must be aware of in toxicology screenings.
Some compounds containing metalloids have medical applications. For instance, antimony compounds have been used to treat leishmaniasis, and bismuth subsalicylate (containing the metal bismuth, which is near the metalloids) is used for stomach ailments.
What if the question was about medical imaging? Then an element like Barium (an alkaline earth metal) would be relevant, as Barium sulfate is used as a radiocontrast agent, distinguishing its properties and use from metalloids.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key term in the question: 'metalloids'.
Recall the definition of a metalloid: an element with properties intermediate between a metal and a non-metal.
Visualize or remember the location of metalloids on the periodic table—they form a 'staircase' or zig-zag line between the metals on the left and the non-metals on the right.
Evaluate each option based on its classification: Iodine is a non-metal (halogen), Hydrogen is a non-metal, Coke is a form of the non-metal carbon, and Boron is the first metalloid in the staircase.
Conclude that Boron is the only option that fits the definition and location of a metalloid.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Classification of elements into metals, non-metals, and metalloids.
Stem keywords: metalloids, example
Lead-in keywords: Which
Negative lead-in flag: false

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