Question

Is element “P” a metal or a non-metal?

Answer 1

Hint: The letter P is the symbol of the element “Phosphorus”. Phosphorus is a nonmetal that sits just below nitrogen in group 15 of the periodic table. It exists in several forms in nature. It is found in white colour and red. It gets oxidised easily in the atmosphere and tends to catch fire easily.

Complete Step by Step Solution:
Phosphorus is a very reactive nonmetal. It gets oxidised easily and catches fire very easily. The melting point of phosphorus is very low i.e. around \[44.1^\circ C\]. Due to this property of low melting point, it catches fire easily in the atmospheric temperature. The reactivity of phosphorus being very high is stored for water safety purposes. The electronic configuration of the phosphorus atom is -
E.C (Atomic number- 15) = \[1{s^2}2{s^2}2{p^6}3{s^2}3{p^3}\].

From the above configuration, it is clear that it contains 5 valence electrons in its outermost shell. Phosphorus generally shows +3 and -3 as its oxidation state as by removal of three electrons or by addition of three electrons it can achieve the nearest noble gas electronic configuration.

Moreover, Phosphorus showcases all the properties of non-metals, bad conductivity of heat and electricity, low melting and boiling point, and brittle. etc.

Note: As it is a very reactive nonmetal it is present as \[{P_4}\] in its natural form. Phosphorus is found in several forms but only its two forms are mostly known i.e. red phosphorus and white phosphorus. Red phosphorus is thermally more stable than its white phosphorus counterpart. Therefore, white phosphorus is more reactive than red phosphorus.