Question

The number of free electrons present in a certain volume of silver is __________ than the number of free electrons present in the same volume of aluminium.

• A. lesser
• B. greater
• C. neither greater nor lesser
• D. None of these

Answer 1

The correct option is A

lesser

The explanation for the Correct Option:

Option A

1. Free electrons are those loose electrons that are present in the valence shell (the outermost shell). And, these free electrons help in the conductivity.
2. The electronic configuration of Aluminium is $1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p¹$
3. Since the valence shell or last shell has three electrons. For Aluminum, the number of free electrons is $3$ per atom.
4. The electronic configuration of Silver is$1s^{2}2s^{2}2p^{6}3s^{2}3p^{6}3d^{10}4s^{2}4p^{6}4d^{10}5s^1$
5. Thus for Silver, the valence shell electron is one electron per atom.

Therefore, The number of free electrons present in a certain volume of silver is lesser than the number of free electrons present in the same volume of aluminium.

Hence The correct option is A.