Question

Metals are generally solid. Which of the following metals is in the liquid state at room temperature?

• A. Mercury
• B. Silver
• C. Aluminum
• D. Sodium

Answer 1

The correct option is A

Mercury

Explanation for correct answers:

Option (A) Mercury

• Generally, the metals present in the periodic table are solid at room temperature.
• Mercury is the only metal that is in the liquid state at room temperature$(38.83°\mathrm{C})$.
• The atomic number of mercury is 80.
• The electronic configuration of mercury is $\left[\mathrm{Xe}\right]4{\mathrm{f}}^{14}5{\mathrm{d}}^{10}6{\mathrm{s}}^2$
• The metals should lose electrons very easily and form bonds with other elements, but mercury does not share its valence electrons with other atoms.
• The electrons in the mercury metal are tightly bonded by the nucleus and because of this, the electrons in mercury behave like they are bigger than the slow-moving electron.
• Due to this weak bonding nature, mercury shows a low melting point and boiling point.
• Mercury requires a very less amount of energy to break the bond between mercury atoms.
• Therefore the metal which exists as a liquid at room temperature is mercury.
• Hence, the Option (A) mercury is correct

Explanation for incorrect answers:

Option (B) Aluminum

• The melting point of silver is $660.3°\mathrm{C}$.
• That is, silver can't melt at room temperature in other words, silver will be in a solid-state at room temperature.
• Hence the Option (B) silver is correct

Option (C) Silver

• The melting point of silver is $961.8°\mathrm{C}$.
• That is, Aluminum can't melt at room temperature in other words, Aluminum will be in a solid state at room temperature.
• Hence the Option (C) Aluminum is correct

Option (D) Sodium

• The melting point of silver is $97.79°\mathrm{C}$.
• That is, Sodium can't melt at room temperature in other words, Sodium will be in a solid state at room temperature.
• Hence the Option (D) Sodium is correct