If a substance is a gas at room temperature, is it a metal metalloid or nonmetal?
A. You cannot tell the information given
B. Metal
C. Nonmetal
D. Metalloid
A. You cannot tell the information given
To determine whether a substance is a metal, metalloid, or nonmetal, we need to consider its properties. However, simply knowing that a substance is a gas at room temperature is not enough information to make a definite determination.
Metals are typically solid at room temperature, with a few exceptions such as mercury, which is a liquid. They are usually good conductors of heat and electricity, have a shiny appearance, and are malleable and ductile.
Nonmetals, on the other hand, can exist in various states at room temperature, including gases, liquids, and solids. They are generally poor conductors of heat and electricity, have a dull appearance, and are brittle.
Metalloids, also known as semimetals, display characteristics intermediate between metals and nonmetals. They possess some properties of metals and some of nonmetals. For example, they can be semiconductors of electricity.
Given that a substance is a gas at room temperature, it could belong to any of these three categories, as both nonmetals and metalloids can exist as gases at room temperature, for example, hydrogen and neon. Therefore, the correct answer would be A. You cannot tell the information given.