Question

Only metals exhibit variable valency.

• A. True
• B. False

Answer 1

The correct option is B False

• Valency: Valency is the combining capacity of an element. The number of electrons donated or accepted by an atom of an element so as to have the electronic configuration of the nearest noble gas is called its valency.
• Variable valency: Sometimes, because of different conditions under which a chemical reaction takes place, the valency of the same element changes. Thus metals like lead, tin, copper, mercury, iron, etc exhibit variable valency.
• Some non-metals exhibit variable valency too, i.e. Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Sulphur (S)

Hence, the given statement is false.