Properties of metals, metalloids and nonmetals one or two properties very different from the expected norm, or that are otherwise notable. Sodium, potassium, rubidium, caesium, barium, platinum, gold Manganese Iron, cobalt, nickel, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium Iridium Gold Mercury Lead Bismuth Uranium Plutonium Boron Boron, antimony Silicon Arsenic Antimony Hydrogen Helium Carbon Phosphorus Iodine Properties of metals, metalloids and nonmetals Metals appear lustrous (beneath any patina); form mixtures (alloys) when combined with other metals; tend to lose or share electrons when they react with other substances; and each forms at least one predominantly basic oxide. Most metals are silvery looking, high density, relatively soft
Porous silicon Porous silicon Porous silicon (abbreviated as "PS" or "pSi") is a form of the chemical element silicon that has introduced nanopores in its microstructure, rendering a large surface to volume ratio in the order of 500 m/cm. Porous silicon was discovered by accident in 1956 by Arthur Uhlir Jr. and Ingeborg Uhlir at the Bell Labs in the U.S. At the time, the Ulhirs were in the process of developing a technique for polishing and shaping the surfaces of silicon and germanium. However, it was found that under several conditions a crude product in the form of thick black, red