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Question

Metals are generally solid. Which of the following metals is in the liquid state at room temperature?


A

Mercury

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B

Silver

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C

Aluminum

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D

Sodium

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Solution

The correct option is A

Mercury


Explanation for correct answers:

Option (A) Mercury

  • Generally, the metals present in the periodic table are solid at room temperature.
  • Mercury is the only metal that is in the liquid state at room temperature(38.83°C).
  • The atomic number of mercury is 80.
  • The electronic configuration of mercury is [Xe]4f145d106s2
  • The metals should lose electrons very easily and form bonds with other elements, but mercury does not share its valence electrons with other atoms.
  • The electrons in the mercury metal are tightly bonded by the nucleus and because of this, the electrons in mercury behave like they are bigger than the slow-moving electron.
  • Due to this weak bonding nature, mercury shows a low melting point and boiling point.
  • Mercury requires a very less amount of energy to break the bond between mercury atoms.
  • Therefore the metal which exists as a liquid at room temperature is mercury.
  • Hence, the Option (A) mercury is correct

Explanation for incorrect answers:

Option (B) Aluminum

  • The melting point of silver is 660.3°C.
  • That is, silver can't melt at room temperature in other words, silver will be in a solid-state at room temperature.
  • Hence the Option (B) silver is correct

Option (C) Silver

  • The melting point of silver is 961.8°C.
  • That is, Aluminum can't melt at room temperature in other words, Aluminum will be in a solid state at room temperature.
  • Hence the Option (C) Aluminum is correct

Option (D) Sodium

  • The melting point of silver is 97.79°C.
  • That is, Sodium can't melt at room temperature in other words, Sodium will be in a solid state at room temperature.
  • Hence the Option (D) Sodium is correct

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