Question 12 - Past Year - 3 Mark Questions - Chapter 5 Class 10 - Periodic Classification of Elements

The atomic number of an element is 14. Examine if this element will have metallic properties or not. Give reason to justify your answer.

Answer

Since Atomic number is 14

Electronic configuration: 2, 8, 4

This element belongs to the 

• 14th group , as it has 4 valence electrons and Group Number = 10 + Number of electrons in outermost shell(valence electrons) = 10 + 4  = 14
•   3rd period , since there are three shells.

Therefore, the element is silicon .

Since it has 4 electrons in its outermost shell , it can neither gain electrons nor lose electrons as it will become unstable.

So,it forms covalent bonds (by sharing of electrons).

Silicon shows properties of both metals and non-metals. So, it is a metalloid.