Question

Elements are classified into- metals – Nonmetals- Metalloids – Noble gases. State which of A, B, C, D is a:
1) Metallic element
2) Non-metallic element
3) Metalloid
4) Noble gas.
A) Is non-malleable, non-ductile and a poor conductor of electricity
B) Has lustre, is malleable and ductile and a good conductor of electricity
C) Is unreactive and inert and present in traces in air
D) Shows properties of both metals and nonmetals

Answer 1

Hint:As we know that elements are classified into different categories based on their chemical and physical properties like malleability, ductility, conductance and reactivity etc. These categories of elements include metals, nonmetals and metalloids.

Complete answer
As we are already aware that Antoine Lavoisier first classified the elements into different categories based on their chemical and physical properties. These categories of elements include metals, nonmetals and metalloids and noble gases.

Let us first talk about metals. We all know that metals are generally those elements which are lustrous in appearance, ductile in nature meaning that they can be drawn into wires and malleable meaning they can be hammered into thin sheets. They are also considered good conductors of electricity and heat because their valence electrons can move freely.Therefore metallic elements have all the characteristics of option (B).

Next comes the non-metallic elements as the name suggests they are opposite of metals, hence are generally non-malleable, non-lustrous, non-ductile and very bad conductors of electricity. They are typically brittle in nature. And all these properties are given option (A).

Then the metalloids, these are the intermediates between metals and nonmetals meaning that they show properties of both metals as well as non-metals. For instance: Arsenic, Antimony etc. This is given in (D).

Lastly the noble gases, as the name is suggesting that they are noble means they are non-reactive and because of this property they are called inert gases. They are monoatomic, colourless and odourless gases present in trace amounts in air. These are given in (C).

Thus the correct answer is:
Metals= B
Non-metals=A
Metalloids= D
Noble gases= C

Note:Physical properties of elements mainly include their appearance, colour, odour, texture etc and chemical properties include their atomic mass, atomic number, electronegativity, ionic radius, melting and boiling points etc.