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Question

Which of the following metal undergo spontaneous combustion?


A

Phosphorous

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B

Calcium

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C

Copper

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D

lithium

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Solution

The correct option is D

lithium


  • Spontaneous combustion is the phenomenon in which a hydrocarbon (or a chemical substance) substance unexpectedly bursts into flame without apparent cause.
  • In this process, the substance gets oxidized which means it loses electrons and forms different oxides.

The explanation for the correct option:

(D) Lithium:

  • Li=1s22s1.
    Between copper and lithium, the ionization energy of lithium will be lower because after losing one electron it will attain a noble gas configuration.
    Hence, lithium will show spontaneous combustion.

The explanation for the incorrect option:

(A) Phosphorus:

  • Electronic configuration of P=1s22s22p63s23p3.
  • In electronic configurations, we can see that phosphorus is stable because of half-filled p orbitals.
  • Phosphorus is a non-metal which can undergo spontaneous combustion.

(B) Calcium:

  • Electronic configuration of Ca=1s22s22p63s23p64s2.
  • Calcium is stable because of fully-filled orbitals.

(C) Copper:

  • Electronic configuration of Cu=1s22s22p63s23p64s13d10.
  • Copper is stable because of fully-filled orbitals.
  • Copper does not catch fire itself it requires heat of application.
  • Hence it will not show spontaneous combustion.

Therefore option (D) is correct. i.e., lithium is a metal which can undergo spontaneous combustion.


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