what are the properties of metals, metalloids, and nonmetals
1 Nonmetals are not dense, dull, do not conduct heat and electricity, tend to gain electrons. 2  Metalloids are elements that have properties of both metals and nonmetals. 3  They are dull or shiny, and partially conduct heat and electricity.
Metals, Nonmetals, & Metalloids. The periodic table on the left separates elements into three groups: the metals (green in the table), nonmetals (orange), and metalloids (blue). Most elements are metals. They are usually shiny, very dense, and only melt at high temperatures.
The metalloids or semimetals are located along the line between the metals and nonmetals in the periodic table. The metalloids are boron, silicon, germanium, arsenic, antimony, and tellurium. Polonium is often considered a metalloid, too. Properties of the Semimetals or Metalloids. The electronegativities and ionization energies of the metalloids are between those of the metals and nonmetals, so the metalloids exhibit characteristics of both classes.