Question

Identify metals, nonmetals, and metalloids from the following list:

Silicon, Carbon, Sulphur, Oxygen, Copper, Mercury, Zinc, Boron, Phosphorous

Answer 1

Silicon

1. The element which contains both the properties of metal as well as nonmetal are called metalloids.
2. Silicon is the example of a metalloid that shows both the properties of metal as well as a nonmetal.

Carbon

1. Nonmetals contain 4 to 8 electrons in their outermost shell.
2. Carbon is the non-metal with atomic number 6 and contains 4 electrons in its valence shell, hence it is nonmetallic in nature.

Sulphur

1. Nonmetals are predicted by knowing the number of valence shell electrons.
2. Sulphur contains 6 electrons in its outermost shell and for nonmetal 4 to 8 electrons are required, hence it is a nonmetal.

Oxygen

1. Nonmetals are identified by their outermost shell electrons which contain 4 to 8 electrons.
2. Oxygen is found in a gaseous state and it contains 6 electrons in its outer shell hence it acts as a gaseous nonmetal.

Copper

1. Metals are identified by counting the valence shell electrons.
2. Metals contain 1 to 3 electrons in their valence shell and Copper contains 2 electrons in its outermost shell.

Mercury

1. Metals contain 1 to 3 electrons in their valence shell.
2. Mercury contains 2 electrons in its outermost or valence shell, and so it is a metal.
3. Mercury is an exception among metals i.e. it is the only metal that is liquid at room temperature.

Zinc

1. Metals are identified by their valence shell electrons which contain 1 to 3 electrons.
2. Zinc is a metal that contains 2 electrons in its outer shell.

Boron

1. The element which possesses contains no metal both the properties of metals and nonmetals are called metalloids.
2. Boron contains both the properties of metals and nonmetals, so it is a metalloid.

Phosphorous

1. Nonmetal will contain 4 to 8 electrons in its outermost shell.
2. Phosphorous with atomic number 15 contains 5 electrons in its valence shell and so it is a contains nonmetal.