Question

Which statement about metals and nonmetals is correct?

a) Metals generally have higher electronegativity than nonmetals.
b) Nonmetals tend to lose electrons more readily than metals.
c) Metals are typically poor conductors of heat and electricity.
d) Nonmetals exhibit a metallic luster.

Answer 1

The correct answer is that nonmetals usually have higher electronegativity than metals, contradicting options a), b), and c), while option d) is false because nonmetals do not exhibit a metallic luster.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct statement about metals and nonmetals is that nonmetals generally have higher electronegativity than metals. Metals, having fewer valence electrons, lose those electrons to become cations, which accounts for their low electronegativities. On the contrary, nonmetals tend to gain electrons due to their higher electronegativities, and thus they form anions. Reflecting upon their physical properties, metals are typically very good conductors of heat and electricity and are lustrous (shiny), whereas nonmetals are usually poor conductors and exhibit no metallic luster. Therefore, metals are not poor conductors (ruling out option c), they do not exhibit a metallic luster (ruling out option d), and they usually have lower electronegativity compared to nonmetals (ruling out option a). Moreover, nonmetals are less likely to lose electrons than metals (thus, ruling out option b).