Question

Which element is most likely to carry electric current easily?

tin
sulfur
anitmony
selenium

Answer 1

Your answer would be tin

Answer 2

Answer: Option (a) is the correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

Electric current is the flow of electrons and an atom that has free electrons will be able to carry current easily.

Hence, electronic configurations of the given elements are as follows.

Tin (Sn) -
`[Kr]4d^(10)5s^(2)5p^(2)`

Sulfur (S) -
`[Ne]3s^(2)3p^(4)`

Antimony (Sb) -
`[Kr]4d^(10)5s^(2)5p^(3)`

Selenium (Se) -
`[Ar]3d^(10)4s^(2)4p^(4)`

So, sulfur and selenium being non-metals won't be able to conduct electricity. Whereas both tin and antimony are poor metals but they are able to conduct electricity.

Antimony has half filled p-shell so, it will not lose its valence electrons as it is stable. Whereas tin will easily lose its valence electrons to become stable.

Thus, we can conclude that tin is the element that is most likely to carry electric current easily.