Question

Which one of the following elements is a non-metal?
a) Mercury
b) Phosphorous
c) Copper
d) Sodium

Answer 1

Hint: In chemistry, a non-metal (or nonmetal) is a chemical element that lacks all of the properties of metals. A non-metal has a medium melting point, boiling point, and density in terms of physical properties. When solid, a non-metal is normally brittle, and it has low thermal and electrical conductivity. Non-metals have a higher ionisation energy, electron affinity, and electronegativity than metals. As they react with other elements and chemical compounds, they gain or exchange electrons.

Complete answer:
In chemistry, a non-metal (or nonmetal) is a chemical element that lacks all of the properties of metals. A non-metal has a medium melting point, boiling point, and density in terms of physical properties. When solid, a non-metal is normally brittle, and it has low thermal and electrical conductivity. Non-metals have a higher ionisation energy, electron affinity, and electronegativity than metals. As they react with other elements and chemical compounds, they gain or exchange electrons.
Mercury:
Mercury is an atomic number 80 chemical element with the symbol Hg. It was formerly known as hydrargyrum and is now known as quicksilver. Mercury is a heavy, silvery d-block material and is the only metallic element that is liquid at normal temperatures and pressures; the only other element that is liquid at these temperatures and pressures is the halogen bromine, while metals like caesium, gallium, and rubidium melt just above room temperature. It's metal.
Phosphorous:
Phosphorous is a non-metal
Phosphorus derives its name from the Greek word phosphorous, which means "light-bringer." Phosphorus is a strongly reactive substance that is never present as a free element on Earth. White, red, violet, and black phosphorus are allotropes (different crystal structures) of the element phosphorus. Phosphorus comes in two main colours: white and red. On Earth, phosphorus does not exist in its pure elemental form.
Phosphorus-31 is the only stable phosphorus isotope. It has twenty-three isotopes that are known.
Copper:
Copper is a chemical metal with the atomic number 29 and the symbol Cu. It's a ductile, malleable metal with excellent thermal and electrical conductivity. A newly uncovered pure copper surface is pinkish-orange in colour. Copper is used as a heat and electricity conductor, a construction material, and a component of various metal alloys, including sterling silver for jewellery, cupronickel for naval hardware and coins, and constantan for strain gauges and thermocouples for temperature calculation.
Sodium:
The chemical element sodium has the symbol Na and the atomic number 11. It's a soft, silvery-white metal with a high reactivity. Sodium belongs to the periodic table's group 1 as an alkali metal. It only has one stable isotope, 23Na. The free metal isn't found in nature, so it has to be made from additives. Sodium is the sixth most common element in the Earth's crust, and it can be found in feldspars, sodalite, and rock salt, among other minerals. Many sodium salts are extremely water soluble: sodium ions have been leached from the Earth's rocks by the activity of water for aeons, and sodium and chlorine are the most abundant dissolved elements in the oceans by weight.

Note:
Phosphorus derives its name from the Greek word phosphorous, which means "light-bringer." Phosphorus is a strongly reactive substance that is never present as a free element on Earth. White, red, violet, and black phosphorus are allotropes (different crystal structures) of the element phosphorus. Phosphorus comes in two main colours: white and red. On Earth, phosphorus does not exist in its pure elemental form.