What is a metalloid?

A metalloid is indeed a nonmetallic element that exhibits some metallic properties. Metalloids are positioned on the periodic table between metals and nonmetals, displaying characteristics of both. They can conduct electricity better than nonmetals but not as well as metals, making them semiconductors. This unique combination of properties allows metalloids to be useful in various applications, particularly in the electronics industry where materials with intermediate conductivity are necessary.

The other options do not accurately describe metalloids. For example, describing metalloids as only a type of metal overlooks their unique nonmetallic traits. Suggesting they are strictly nonmetallic fails to recognize their partial metallic behavior, and claiming that they are only insulators does not reflect their ability to conduct electricity to some extent, which is a key aspect that defines metalloids.