Question

Find the odd one out and explain your choice.

(Hint: valency is not a criterion)

Copper, lead, zinc, mercury.

Answer 1

• The criterion that is used to find the odd one out in the given case is element's state at room temperature.
• Metals are solids at room temperature.
• Elements such as Copper $\left(Cu\right)$, Lead $\left(Pb\right)$, Zinc $\left(Zn\right)$, and Mercury $\left(Hg\right)$ are all Metals.
• All the given metals are solids at room temperature except Mercury.
• It is because mercury resembles noble gas in its electronic configuration due to which removal of an electron from it is very difficult due to which bond formation is also weak.

The odd one out is Mercury because being metal it is Liquid at room temperature.