Question

Materials that can be drawn into wires are called ductiles. Which of the following is not a ductile material?
A.Silver
B.Sulphur
C.Copper
D.Aluminium

Answer 1

Hint: All the elements are classified into metals and non metals based on some distinguishing properties. All the elements which are shiny, good conductors, malleable and ductile are classified under metals and those elements with contrasting characters to metals i.e. poor conductors, brittle and non shiny are classified as non metals

Complete answer:
The properties of metals have been discussed. Now let us cross check the options to find out the answer. Silver belongs to group 11 in the periodic table and is also found to be made into wires as it is soft and ductile. It is said to be a transitional element along with Gold and Copper. These three elements are transition metals as these elements have partially filled -d orbital that can easily form a cation which is one of the properties of metals. The next option is Sulphur, it is a non metal belonging to the oxygen family, and cannot be made into wires because it is brittle which means it gets broken when stretched. Copper and aluminium are metals and show the property of ductility and are widely used in electric circuits. By the above explanation, it is clear that Sulphur being a non metal does not show ductility or malleability.

Hence the correct option is B .

Note:
Metals can be made into wires or sheets because the atoms present in it have the ability to move throughout the metal lattice without breaking the bond, the layers of atoms present in it slide one over the other making it easy to bend or mould into any shape. This property is absent in non metals and hence cannot be made into sheets or drawn into wires.