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Webster 1913 Edition
Metalloid
Met′al-loid
,Noun.
[L.
metallum
metal + -oid
: cf. F. métalloïde
.] (a)
Formerly, the metallic base of a fixed alkali, or alkaline earth; – applied by
Sir Humphrey Davy
to sodium, potassium, and some other metallic substances whose metallic character was supposed to be not well defined. (b)
Now, one of several elementary substances which in the free state are unlike metals, and whose compounds possess or produce acid, rather than basic, properties; a nonmetal;
as, boron, carbon, phosphorus, nitrogen, oxygen, sulphur, chlorine, bromine, etc.
, are metalloids. Met′al-loid
,Adj.
1.
Having the appearance of a metal.
2.
(Chem.)
Having the properties of a nonmetal; nonmetallic; acid; negative.
Webster 1828 Edition
Metalloid
MET'ALLOID
,Noun.