Question

A metal which is brittle in nature:
(A) Zinc
(B) Hydrogen
(C) Sodium
(D) Mercury

Answer 1

Hint: To answer this question, you must recall the properties of metals and the metals which show anomalous properties. The ductility or malleability and brittle nature of a substance are its physical properties. They involve change in the shape of the substance. The metal closer to p-block will have brittle character.

Complete step by step solution:
The modern periodic table is made up of seven periods and eighteen groups. The groups represent the vertical columns while the periods represent the horizontal rows. Out of the 118 elements in the periodic table, there are 95 metals, 17 non- metals and 6 metalloids. Almost 80 percent of all elements known are metals.
Metals have certain characteristic properties like lustre, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, hardness, etc. We discuss the property of malleability and ductility. Generally metals are malleable, i.e. they can be beaten into thin sheets without breaking and ductile, i.e. they can be drawn into thin wires without breaking. Non- metals don’t show this property and break when tried to convert into sheets or wires. They are thus known to be brittle.
However, some metals like cast iron and zinc show a different physical property than other metals and are brittle in nature.
The correct answer is A.

Note:
A physical change is that change in which the state of the matter, or the shape, size, etc. of a substance are varied. There are no changes occurring in the composition of the substance and the new substance which is formed has exactly the same properties as the old substance. Physical changes are thus reversible and the old substance can be obtained back easily.