Question

Which one of the following is not a metal?

• A. Iron
• B. silicon
• C. aluminium
• D. copper

Answer 1

The correct option is B

silicon

Explanation for correct option

(B) Silicon

Elements

• “An element is a basic form of matter that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical reactions.”
• Elements can be metals, non-metals and metalloids.
• Examples of elements are Iron $\left(\mathrm{Fe}\right)$, Sodium $\left(\mathrm{Na}\right)$, or Phosphorus $\left(\mathrm{P}\right)$.

Silicon

• The symbol $\mathrm{Si}$ is used to represent the Silicon element.
• It belongs to the modern periodic table's group $14$.
• Silicon is the chemical element with the atomic number $14$.
• Silicon is classified as a metalloid.
• Some of its characteristics resemble those of metals and others like those of nonmetals
• Metalloids are chemical elements with characteristics that fall between metals and nonmetals.

Explanation for incorrect options

• Iron $\left(\mathrm{Fe}\right)$, Aluminium $\left(\mathrm{Al}\right)$ and Copper $\left(\mathrm{Cu}\right)$ are metals
• Hence, all other options (A), (C), and (D) are incorrect.

Therefore, the correct option is (B) Silicon.