Question

Classify the following elements into metals and non-metals. Justify your answer. 

i. Element 'X' with atomic number 11. 

ii. Element 'Y' with atomic number 16.

Answer 1

i. Element 'X' is a metal. Its electronic configuration being (2, 8, 1), it can easily lose 1 electron from its outermost shell during a chemical reaction to attain the stable electronic configuration of the nearest noble gas. This is a characteristic property of a metal. 

ii. Element 'Y' is a non-metal. Its electronic configuration being (2, 8, 6), it can easily gain 2 electrons in its outermost shell during a chemical reaction to attain the stable electronic configuration of the nearest noble gas. This is a characteristic property of a non-metal.