Question

From the following list, choose metals, and nonmetals. State the property on the basis of which you made your choice;

Chlorine, Aluminium, Sulphur, and Magnesium.

Answer 1

Chlorine

• The atomic number of Chlorine is 17, so its electronic configuration is 2, 8, 7.
• The outermost shell of Chlorine contains 7 electrons.
• The non-metals are classified as the elements that contain 4 to 8 electrons in the outermost shells.
• Thus, Chlorine is non-metallic in nature.

Aluminium

• The atomic number of Aluminium is 13, so its electronic configuration is 2, 8, 3.
• The outermost shell of Aluminium contains 3 electrons.
• The metals are classified as the elements that contain 1, 2 or 3 electrons in the outermost shells.
• Thus, Aluminium is metallic in nature.

Sulphur

• The atomic number of Sulphur is 16, so its electronic configuration is 2, 8, 6.
• The outermost shell of Sulphur contains 6 electrons, which denotes that the element is non-metallic in nature.
• This is due to the outer shell electrons we can easily identify the element is metal, nonmetal or metalloid.

Magnesium

• The atomic number of Magnesium is 12, so its electronic configuration is 2, 8, 2.
• this is clear from the electronic configuration that the outermost or valence of magnesium contains 2 electrons.
• This justifies that Magnesium is metallic in nature.

Therefore, among the given list metals are; Aluminium and Magnesium and nonmetals are; Chlorine and Sulphur.

The property applied is the number of electrons present in the outermost shell.