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Which of these elements is a solid at room temperature? Justify your answer - Junior Cycle Science - Question e - 2019
Question e
Which of these elements is a solid at room temperature? Justify your answer. The diagrams on the right show the arrangement of particles in the elements aluminium a... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Which of these elements is a solid at room temperature? Justify your answer - Junior Cycle Science - Question e - 2019
Step 1
Which of these elements is a solid at room temperature?
Answer
The element that is a solid at room temperature is Aluminium.
Aluminium, as depicted in the diagram, has its particles tightly packed together. This close arrangement indicates that it maintains a solid state due to the strength of the intermolecular forces that hold the particles in a fixed position.
In contrast, Chlorine consists of particles that are more spread out and exhibit more movement, indicating that it is in a gaseous state at room temperature.
Step 2
Justify your answer.
Answer
The justification for Aluminium being a solid is based on its particle arrangement. The particles (or atoms) in aluminium are closely packed. This close packing allows the solid to maintain its shape and resist flow, which is characteristic of solids. The presence of strong metallic bonds in aluminium further stabilizes its solid form.