Question

The property of hydrogen which distinguishes it from alkali metals is
A. Its electropositive character
B. Its affinity for non-metal
C. The reducing character
D. Its non-metallic character

Answer 1

Hint: Hydrogen is the most lightweight among all other elements. Hydrogen is nonmetallic, except at exceptionally elevated pressures. It makes a single covalent bond with mostly non-metallic elements creating compounds like water and moa of the organic compounds.

Complete Step by Step Answer:
At standard conditions, hydrogen is a gas of diatomic molecules having the formula \[{H_2}\].
Hydrogen is the greatly abundant chemical substance in the universe, comprising approximately \[75\% \] of all matter.
In ionic compounds, it can form a negatively charged anion called a hydride or a positively charged cation species indicated by the symbol\[{H^ + }\].
The \[{H^ + }\]cation consists of a proton.
Hydrogen has electronic configuration \[1{s^1}\].
This electronic configuration is analogous to the outer electronic configuration (\[n{s^1}\]) of alkali metals.
Hence, hydrogen carries a similarity to alkali metals, which lose one electron to form unipositive ions. Alkali metals form oxides, halides and sulphides. Hydrogen also shows this property.
Hydrogen has high ionisation enthalpy and doesn't possess metallic traits under normal conditions. It thus acts as a non-metal.
So, the property of hydrogen that differentiates it from alkali metals is its non-metallic character.
So, option D is correct.

Note: The considerable usage of dihydrogen is the synthesis of ammonia which is utilised in the production of nitric acid and nitrogenous fertilisers. It is employed in the manufacture of vanaspati fat by the hydrogenation of polyunsaturated vegetable oils such as soybean, cotton seeds etc. It is utilised in the production of bulk organic chemicals, especially methanol. It is also employed for the production of metal hydrides and hydrogen chloride, a very beneficial chemical.