Questions on Metalloids
Multiple-Choice Questions: Metalloids
General Knowledge and Properties
1. Which of the following elements is classified as a metalloid?
A) Oxygen
B) Sulfur
C) Boron
D) Neon
E) Potassium
2. Metalloids typically have properties of:
A) Only metals
B) Only non-metals
C) Both metals and non-metals
D) Noble gases
E) Alkali metals
3. Which of these is a property of metalloids?
A) High malleability
B) Good insulator
C) Semiconductor behavior
D) Always gas at room temperature
E) High ductility
4. Which of the following is not a metalloid?
A) Silicon
B) Arsenic
C) Tellurium
D) Bismuth
E) Antimony
5. Metalloids are generally located:
A) In Group 1 of the periodic table
B) Along the zigzag (stair-step) line
C) On the far left of the periodic table
D) In the noble gas column
E) In the transition metals block
6. Which of the following metalloids is widely used in computer chips and solar panels?
A) Boron
B) Silicon
C) Arsenic
D) Antimony
E) Tellurium
7. The term "semiconductor" most commonly refers to which group of elements?
A) Non-metals
B) Noble gases
C) Metalloids
D) Alkali metals
E) Halogens
8. Which metalloid is often used to dope silicon in semiconductors?
A) Nitrogen
B) Boron
C) Fluorine
D) Oxygen
E) Argon
9. Which of the following best describes the electrical conductivity of metalloids?
A) Excellent conductors
B) Poor conductors
C) Variable; often semiconductors
D) Always insulators
E) Conduct only at high pressure
10. A metalloid with poisonous properties used in pesticides is:
A) Carbon
B) Arsenic
C) Phosphorus
D) Zinc
E) Iodine
Uses and Chemical Behavior
11. Metalloids tend to form:
A) Only metallic bonds
B) Only ionic bonds
C) Only covalent bonds
D) Covalent or ionic bonds, depending on the element
E) Only hydrogen bonds
12. Which of the following metalloids is used in thermoelectric devices?
A) Silicon
B) Tellurium
C) Boron
D) Phosphorus
E) Chlorine
13. What is a common physical property of many metalloids?
A) They are colorless gases
B) They are shiny like metals
C) They are soft and dull
D) They are magnetic
E) They are radioactive
14. Which of these metalloids is essential in trace amounts in the human diet?
A) Antimony
B) Tellurium
C) Arsenic
D) Boron
E) Silicon
15. Metalloids can act as conductors:
A) Only in solid state
B) Only at absolute zero
C) Under certain conditions
D) Only in aqueous solutions
E) Only in gaseous state
Identification and Periodic Trends
16. Which of the following lists includes only metalloids?
A) Oxygen, Fluorine, Neon
B) Zinc, Iron, Copper
C) Boron, Silicon, Arsenic
D) Sodium, Magnesium, Potassium
E) Carbon, Hydrogen, Helium
17. Which of these elements lies along the “metalloid staircase”?
A) Calcium
B) Nitrogen
C) Silicon
D) Argon
E) Hydrogen
18. Which group of the periodic table contains most metalloids?
A) Group 1
B) Group 2
C) Group 13–17
D) Group 18
E) Transition metals
19. Which metalloid is often used in fireworks and rocket fuel?
A) Arsenic
B) Antimony
C) Boron
D) Tellurium
E) Silicon
20. Which of the following statements about metalloids is correct?
A) They are found only in gases
B) They always behave like non-metals
C) They are never shiny
D) They may conduct electricity better when heated
E) They do not react chemically
Answers and Explanations
1. C – Boron
→ Boron is a metalloid; it has properties between metals and non-metals.
2. C – Both metals and non-metals
→ Metalloids exhibit intermediate behavior.
3. C – Semiconductor behavior
→ This is a hallmark property of metalloids like silicon.
4. D – Bismuth
→ Bismuth is a metal, not a metalloid.
5. B – Along the zigzag (stair-step) line
→ Metalloids are located where metals and non-metals meet.
6. B – Silicon
→ Silicon is the most widely used semiconductor material.
7. C – Metalloids
→ The term "semiconductor" often refers to metalloids.
8. B – Boron
→ Boron is used to dope silicon, enhancing conductivity.
9. C – Variable; often semiconductors
→ Their conductivity changes with temperature and doping.
10. B – Arsenic
→ Arsenic is toxic and used in certain pesticides.
11. D – Covalent or ionic bonds, depending on the element
→ Metalloids can bond in multiple ways.
12. B – Tellurium
→ Used in thermoelectric applications to convert heat into electricity.
13. B – They are shiny like metals
→ Metalloids typically have a metallic luster.
14. D – Boron
→ Essential in trace amounts for plant and possibly human health.
15. C – Under certain conditions
→ Metalloids conduct electricity only under specific conditions.
16. C – Boron, Silicon, Arsenic
→ All are recognized metalloids.
17. C – Silicon
→ Located directly on the metalloid staircase.
18. C – Group 13–17
→ Most metalloids are found in these groups.
19. C – Boron
→ Used in pyrotechnics due to its energetic reactions.
20. D – They may conduct electricity better when heated
→ A defining trait of semiconductors like metalloids.
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