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
Metalloid are more expensive than gold, on account of their significant radioactivity. As of 5 April 2014, prices for small samples (up to 100 g) of silicon, antimony and tellurium, and graphite, aluminium and selenium, average around one third the cost of silver (US$1.5 per gram or about $45 an ounce). Boron, germanium, and arsenic samples average about three-and-a-half times the cost of silver. Polonium is available for about $100 per microgram. Zalutsky and Pruszynski estimate a similar cost for producing astatine. Prices for the applicable elements traded as commodities tend to range from two to three times cheaper than the