Question

A metal which is brittle in nature:
(a) Zinc
(b) Hydrogen
(c) Sodium
(d) Mercury

Answer 1

Hint: We can solve this question by comparing the periodic properties of the given periodic elements. Brittle means ‘breakable or fragile’. Few metals will have the property of brittleness.

Complete answer:
Let us first understand the concept of brittleness. The term ‘brittle’ means “hard but liable to break easily”. If a material is brittle, it means that when it is subjected to stress, it breaks with little elastic deformation and without significant plastic deformation. Brittle materials absorb relatively less energy prior to fracture (even those of high strength).
Metals are not generally brittle. Rather, they are malleable and ductile.
Now, let us look at the options.
Coming to option A, Sodium. It is an alkali metal and hence cannot be brittle.
Coming to option B, Hydrogen. It does not exist as an independent metal, so it is not the answer.
Coming to option C, Mercury. It exists as a silvery-white liquid metal and hence it cannot be brittle.
Coming to option D, Zinc. It is the metal which has brittle nature among the given options.

Therefore, the answer is option (a) – Zinc is the metal which is brittle in nature.

Note:
Zinc is a d-block element, with an atomic number 30. It is located in period 4 and group 12 of the modern periodic table. Because of the brittle nature zinc undergoes corrosion very easily when compared to other metals in the periodic table.