Element p is soft and brittle does not conduct electricity. Element q is hard, malleable and ductile. Which one of them is a non metal? Will there be difference in nature of the oxides of p and q

Question

Jonathan Cantrell

Chemistry

11 July, 14:37

Element p is soft and brittle does not conduct electricity. Element q is hard, malleable and ductile. Which one of them is a non metal? Will there be difference in nature of the oxides of p and q

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Answers (1)

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Bryan Mathis · Answer 1

Element P is a nonmetal

There will be a difference in the nature of oxides formed by P and Q.

Explanation:

Nonmetals are known to be brittle. Nonmetals do not conduct electricity due to a large gap between the valence band and the conduction band. Metals have little difference between the valence and the conduction band hence they are good conductors of electricity. Metals are also known to be malleable and ductile unlike nonmetals.

Metal form basic oxides which dissolve in water to give alkaline solutions. Nonmetals form acidic oxides which dissolve in water to give alkaline solutions. Hence there is a difference between metal oxides (oxides of element Q) and nonmetal oxides (oxides of element P).