Semiconductors (metalloids)
By: Abbey Allen
Boron
- Date of Discovery: 1808
- Discoverer: Sir Humphry Davy
- Name origin: From Borax and Carbon
- Uses: heat resistant alloys
- Obtained from: kernite
Silicon
- Date of discovery: 1823
- Discoverer: Jons Berzelius
- Name origin: From the Latin word Silex
- Uses: Glass, semiconductors
- Obtained from: Second most abundant element
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Germanium
- Date of Discovery: 1886
- Discoverer: Clemens Winkler
- Name origin: From the latin word Germania
- Uses: Semiconductors
- Obtained from: refining of copper, zinc.
Arsenic
- Date of Discovery: Known to the ancients
- Discoverer: Unknown
- Name Origin: From the Greek word arsenikos and the Latin word arsenicum
- Uses: Poison, conducts electricity, semiconductors
- Obtained From: mispickel
Polonium
- Date of Discovery: 1898
- Discoverer: Pierre and Marie Curie
- Name Origin: After Poland
- Uses: No uses known
- Obtained From: pitchblende, decay of radium
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Tellurium
- Date of Discovery: 1782
- Discoverer: Franz Muller von Reichenstein
- Name Origin: From the Greek word tellus (Earth)
- Uses: coloring of glass and ceramics, thermoelectric devices
- Obtained From: by-product of refining of lead and copper