Question

Which of the following is the most sonorous metal?
(A) Gold
(B) Platinum
(C) Mercury
(D) Silver

Answer 1

Hint: Find out what the meaning of sonorous is and which metals are sonorous in the periodic table. This property depends on elasticity. Check which of these metals possess the property of elasticity to get the answer.

Complete step by step answer:
- Sonorous is the property of materials to produce sound.
- Sonorous is making a very deep sound having rich quality.
- For example, bells are made of bronze alloy of copper and tin which produce a sonorous sound.
- When steel is banged with a spoon, it also produces a sonorous sound.
- The property of metals to be sonorous is due to elasticity.
- We know metals are electropositive in nature. When a metal is hit, the electron cloud present in metal shifts very easily. This movement of electrons gives out very little energy which causes kinetic energy to be easily propagated in the form of sound waves. This property is known as elasticity of metals.
- Basically, a metal to be sonorous, it should be elastic with respect to movement of electrons.
- Now, let’s look at the given options.
- Mercury is a liquid metal at room temperature so it won’t produce any sound as it can’t be struck.
- Gold and platinum are inert metals. They generally don’t produce a sonorous sound. They just produce a very faint sound when struck.
- Silver has the most elasticity among all the given options. Therefore, silver is the most sonorous metal.
So, the correct answer is “Option D”.

Note: Remember metals are electropositive in nature. Sonorous is the property of materials to produce deep sound. Some sonorous metals and alloys are, copper, bronze, steel, aluminium, tin, silver, iron, etc. Metals which are soft and inelastic or inert can’t produce sound like mercury, sodium, gallium, gold, platinum, etc.