Question

Increasing order of metallic character

• A. \( \text{Na}>\text{Mg}>\text{Be}>\text{Si}>\text{P} \)
• B. \( \text{Na}>\text{Be}>\text{P}>\text{Si}>\text{Mg} \)
• C. \( \text{Mg}>\text{Be}>\text{P}>\text{Si}>\text{Na} \)
• D. \( \text{P}>\text{Si}>\text{Be}>\text{Mg}>\text{Na} \)
• E. \( \text{Mg}>\text{Si}>\text{Be}>\text{Na}>\text{P} \)

Hint:

Metallic character increases as you move from right to left across a period and from top to bottom within a group in the periodic table. Alkali and alkaline earth metals have the highest metallic character.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding metallic character.
Metallic character refers to the ability of an element to lose electrons and form positive ions (cations). It increases as we move from right to left across a period and from top to bottom within a group in the periodic table. Elements on the left side of the periodic table (such as alkali and alkaline earth metals) exhibit higher metallic character compared to elements on the right (such as non-metals).

Step 2: Analysis of the options.
- (A) \( \text{Na}>\text{Mg}>\text{Be}>\text{Si}>\text{P} \): Correct. Sodium (Na) has the highest metallic character because it is an alkali metal, followed by magnesium (Mg) and beryllium (Be), which are alkaline earth metals. Silicon (Si) and phosphorus (P) are metalloids and non-metals, respectively, with lower metallic character. - (B) \( \text{Na}>\text{Be}>\text{P}>\text{Si}>\text{Mg} \): Incorrect. Magnesium (Mg) should have more metallic character than beryllium (Be), not the other way around. - (C) \( \text{Mg}>\text{Be}>\text{P}>\text{Si}>\text{Na} \): Incorrect. Sodium (Na) should have the highest metallic character, but here it is incorrectly placed last. - (D) \( \text{P}>\text{Si}>\text{Be}>\text{Mg}>\text{Na} \): Incorrect. Non-metals like phosphorus (P) and silicon (Si) cannot have more metallic character than metals like magnesium (Mg) and sodium (Na). - (E) \( \text{Mg}>\text{Si}>\text{Be}>\text{Na}>\text{P} \): Incorrect. Sodium (Na) should have the highest metallic character.
Step 3: Conclusion.
The correct increasing order of metallic character is option (A): \( \text{Na}>\text{Mg}>\text{Be}>\text{Si}>\text{P} \).
\[ \boxed{\text{Na}>\text{Mg}>\text{Be}>\text{Si}>\text{P}} \]
Final Answer: \( \text{Na}>\text{Mg}>\text{Be}>\text{Si}>\text{P} \)