Question

What does the element with atomic number 32 describe?
A.A metal
B.A non – metal
C.A metalloid
D.A halogen
E.A noble gas

Answer 1

Find the element from the periodic table which has atomic number 32. Then, see its properties and check whether it is a metal, non – metal, metalloid, halogen or noble gas.

Complete Step by Step Solution:
In the question we have been given with the four options which are: metal, non – metal, metalloid, halogen and noble gas. So, we must know about them –
Metals: These are the substances which are the natural components of the earth’s crust. which are found in the form of metal ores. Metals are a good conductor of heat and electricity. They are ductile, sonorous, malleable. They are also lustrous and shiny. The metals are very strong and durable.
Non – metals: Non – metals are the elements which form negative ions by accepting or gaining electrons. In these types of substances there are 4, 5, 6 or 7 electrons in their outermost shell. Their size is smaller than the metals. They have opposite properties of the metals. They have high electronegativity.
Metalloid: Metalloids are those substances which are in between the metals and non – metals. These substances look like metals but behave mostly like non – metals. Their conductivity is good but not as good as metals. They are brittle and appear to be lustrous. They are also semiconductors.
Halogen: This is the group in the periodic table which consists of the elements fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine and astatine. The elements of group 17 are known as halogens.
The noble gases make up a class of chemical elements with similar properties; under standard conditions, they are all odourless, colourless, monatomic gases with very low chemical reactivity. The elements included are helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon and radon.
The element in the periodic table with the atomic number 32 is Germanium which belongs to group 14. It is a lustrous, brittle and semiconductor substance. From its properties we can easily conclude that it is the metalloid.

Hence, the correct option is (C).

Note: We can also identify Germanium as metalloid by its chemical properties. The chemical properties of metalloids and germanium are similar. They both can form alloys when mixed with metal and when they react with halogens, forms compounds.