Question

What metals are relatively volatile and why $?$

Answer 1

First we know that a volatile substance is one that evaporates. Relative volatility is a mixture of chemicals measuring the vapor pressures of the components in a liquid. So, we need to find the metal which is in liquid state at room temperature.

Complete answer:
Mercury is the only metal that is a liquid at room temperature. It has weak intermolecular forces and therefore a relatively high vapour pressure ( $0.25$ $Pa$ at ${25^o}$ $C$ ). The attractive forces are so weak that mercury melts at $- {39^o}C$ . Hence the most volatile metal is mercury. Next to mercury, the most volatile metals are the heavier alkali metals. Whereas mercury has a vapour pressure of $1$ Pa at ${42^o}$ C, cesium has a vapor pressure of $1$ Pa at ${144^o}$ C.
The alkali metals have only one electron to share in the metal crystal, so they have weaker interactions than other metals. So, alkali metals are all volatile.

Note:
Mercury is the only metal that is liquid at standard temperature and pressure. Also, mercury is a poor conductor of heat. A non-volatile substance refers to a substance that does not readily evaporate into a gas at room temperature.
Additional information: Mercury is commonly known as quicksilver with the symbol $Hg$ and atomic number $80$ . It has a very high surface tension.