Question

What metals are relatively volatile and why $ ? $

Answer 1

Hint: First we know that a volatile substance is one that evaporates. Relative volatility is a mixture of chemicals measuring the vapor pressures of the components in a liquid. So, we need to find the metal which is in liquid state at room temperature.

Complete answer:
Mercury is the only metal that is a liquid at room temperature. It has weak intermolecular forces and therefore a relatively high vapour pressure ( $ 0.25 $ $ Pa $ at $ {25^o} $ $ C $ ). The attractive forces are so weak that mercury melts at $ - {39^o}C $ . Hence the most volatile metal is mercury. Next to mercury, the most volatile metals are the heavier alkali metals. Whereas mercury has a vapour pressure of $ 1 $ Pa at $ {42^o} $ C, cesium has a vapor pressure of $ 1 $ Pa at $ {144^o} $ C.
The alkali metals have only one electron to share in the metal crystal, so they have weaker interactions than other metals. So, alkali metals are all volatile.

Note:
Mercury is the only metal that is liquid at standard temperature and pressure. Also, mercury is a poor conductor of heat. A non-volatile substance refers to a substance that does not readily evaporate into a gas at room temperature.
Additional information: Mercury is commonly known as quicksilver with the symbol $ Hg $ and atomic number $ 80 $ . It has a very high surface tension.