Question

By considering their position in the Periodic Table, which one of the following elements would you expect to have maximum metallic characteristic? Ga Ge As Se Be

Answer 1

1. The metallic character of an element depends upon the ease of losing electrons.
2. The larger the size of an atom, the more easily it can donate electrons, due to the weak force of attraction of the nucleus.
3. The atomic size of elements depends on the effective nuclear charge of elements.
4. Effective nuclear charge is the attractive positive charge of nuclear protons acting on valence electrons.
5. As we move left to right in a period effective nuclear charge increases and atomic size decreases.
6. With the decrease in atomic size force of attraction of the outermost electron to the nucleus increases and hence ease of losing electron decreases and metallic character decreases.
7. The Elements, $\left(\mathrm{Gallium}\right)\mathrm{Ga},\left(\mathrm{Germanium}\right)\mathrm{Ge},\left(\mathrm{Arsenic}\right)\mathrm{As},\left(\mathrm{Selenium}\right)\mathrm{Se},$ and $\mathrm{Be}\left(\mathrm{Beryllium}\right)$belong to period 4. As we know, while moving in a period from left to right, atomic size decreases due to an increase in effective nuclear charge, therefore Ga has a larger size among all given elements, hence it can donate electrons more easily, and therefore Ga has the highest metallic character.