Chemistry › Section R · Metals, metalloids, and nonmetals › Topic R.3
Metalloids and nonmetals
To the right of the metals lie the elements that make up computer chips, glass, diamonds and the air you breathe. Their electrons are held tightly in covalent bonds, and that one fact explains their structures, their oxides and why silicon became the material of the electronic age.
In this topic
- Metalloids: the middle ground
- Boron: short of electrons
- Silicon: from sand to chips
- Worked example: smelting silicon
- Silica, silicates and glass
- Nonmetals: electrons held tight
- The first member of each group is different
- The allotropes of carbon
- Nonmetal oxides are acidic
- Worked example: classifying a mystery element
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Key takeaways
This topic is part of Wuanberri Pro. Checking your access…