Metalloids are the elements found along the stair-step line of the periodic table that distinguishes metals from non metals. The line is drawn from between Boron and Aluminum to the border between Polonium and Astatine. The only exception to this is Aluminum which is classified under "other metals."
Metalloids have properties of both metals and non metals. Some of the metalloids e.g. Silicon and Germanium are semi-conductors. This means they can carry an electrical charge under special conditions and this property makes metalloids very useful in the computer industry.
