Metalloids

Metalloids are elements that sit between metals and non-metals, showing a mix of properties from both groups rather than fully belonging to either.

• Silicon and boron are the two classic examples at this level — you'll meet more, and learn exactly what makes their behaviour "in-between," in higher grades.
• This middle-ground behaviour is precisely why metalloids get their own category instead of being squeezed into "metal" or "non-metal" — some conduct heat or electricity only partially, unlike a typical metal or non-metal.
• Silicon in particular is far from a minor curiosity — it's the backbone of computer chips and solar cells, precisely because its in-between electrical behaviour can be finely controlled.