Final answer:
Semiconductors, also known as metalloids, are found bordering the zigzag line on the periodic table and have intermediate properties between metals and nonmetals.
Step-by-step explanation:
Semiconductors, also called metaloids, are elements that border the zigzag line on the periodic table. This line runs from boron to astatine, and the elements adjacent to this line exhibit properties that are intermediate between those of metals and nonmetals.
Semiconductors like silicon (Si) and germanium (Ge) have important applications in modern electronics due to their conductivity, which is between that of metals and insulators. For instance, these materials are used to create integrated circuits (ICs) and devices such as diodes, which allow electric current to flow in only one direction.