<Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> A metalloid is any chemical element which has properties in between those of metals and nonmetals, or that has a mixture of them . There is neither a standard definition of a metalloid nor complete agreement on the elements appropriately classified as such . Despite the lack of specificity, the term remains in use in the literature of chemistry . </P> <P> The six commonly recognised metalloids are boron, silicon, germanium, arsenic, antimony, and tellurium . Five elements are less frequently so classified: carbon, aluminium, selenium, polonium, and astatine . On a standard periodic table, all eleven are in a diagonal area in the p - block extending from boron at the upper left to astatine at lower right, along the dividing line between metals and nonmetals shown on some periodic tables . </P> <P> Typical metalloids have a metallic appearance, but they are brittle and only fair conductors of electricity . Chemically, they behave mostly as nonmetals . They can form alloys with metals . Most of their other physical and chemical properties are intermediate in nature . Metalloids are usually too brittle to have any structural uses . They and their compounds are used in alloys, biological agents, catalysts, flame retardants, glasses, optical storage and optoelectronics, pyrotechnics, semiconductors, and electronics . </P>

Is carbon a metal nonmetal or a metalloid