Metal, Nonmetal and Metalloid Trivia Quiz

Answer: Metal

Aluminium (Al) is a silvery white metal in group 13 of the periodic table and is the most abundant element in Earth's crust. It never occurs in metallic form in nature. It has the following properties: atomic number 13, atomic weight 26.981, melting point 660 C (1220.58 F) and boiling point 2,467 C (4566 F).

Answer: Metal

Bismuth (Bi) is a high-density, silvery, pink-tinged metal of group 15 in the periodic table. It appears as a native metal as well as in ores. It has the following properties: atomic number 83, atomic weight 208.980, melting point 271.4 C (520.3 F) and boiling point 1564 C (2,840 F).

Answer: Metal

Gallium (Ga) is a silvery white metal of main group 13 in the periodic table which does not appear as a native metal. It is found in gallite and it is extracted from zinc blende, iron pyrites and bauxite. It is a very soft metal. It has the following properties: atomic number 31, atomic weight 69.7, melting point 29.76 C (85.6 F) and boiling point 2,400 C (4,357 F).

Answer: Metal

Lithium (Li), the lightest of metallic elements, is white, soft and lustrous and belongs to main group 1. It was discovered in 1817 and can be found in salts and pegmatite ores. It has the atomic number 3, atomic weight 6.94, melting point 180.5 C (356.9 F) and boiling point 1,342 C (2,448 F).

Answer: Metal

Strontium (Sr) is an alkaline-earth metal that belongs to group 2 of the periodic table. It is soft, with a silvery luster, and turns yellow when reacting with air. The metal was isolated in 1808 and takes its name from a village in Scotland. Strontium has an atomic number of 38, atomic weight 87.62, melting point 777 C (1431 F) and boiling point 1,377 C (2511 F).

Answer: Nonmetal

Argon (Ar) is an inert gas that belongs to group 18 and it is colourless, odourless and tasteless. The gas was isolated in 1894 and it forms part of the air that we breathe. It has an atomic number of 18, atomic weight 39.79, melting point -189.2 C (−308.6 F) and boiling point -185.7 C (−302.3 F).

Answer: Nonmetal

Bromine (Br) is a noxious, deep red, liquid, and is a member of group 17 in the periodic table. It was discovered in 1826 and took its name from the Greek word "bromos" that means very bad smell. It has atomic number 35, atomic weight 79.901, melting point -7.2 C (19 F) and boiling point 59 C (138 F).

Answer: Nonmetal

Chlorine (Cl) is a toxic, greenish yellow, gas, which is a member of group 17 in the periodic table. It was recognized as an element in 1810 and was given the name from the Greek word "chloros" that means yellow-green. It has atomic number 17, atomic weight 35.446, melting point -103 C (−153 F) and boiling point -34 C (−29 F).

Answer: Nonmetal

Iodine (I) is the heaviest of the halogens and belongs to group 17 of the periodic table. The element was discovered in 1811 and its name means violet in Greek ("iodes"). It has atomic number 53, atomic weight 126.904, melting point 113.7 C (236 F) and boiling point 184.3 C (363 F).

Answer: Nonmetal

Sulphur (S) is tasteless, odourless and has a pale yellow colour. It is highly reactive, reacting with all metals bar gold and platinum. It has atomic number 16, atomic weight 32.064, melting point 119 C (235 F) and boiling point 444.6 C (832 F).

Answer: Metalloid

Arsenic (As) is a gray or yellow crystal that belongs to group 15 of the periodic table. It had been in use before it was recognized as an element. Its atomic number is 33, atomic weight 74.92, melting point 814 C (1497 F) and boiling point 613 C (1135 F).

Answer: Metalloid

Boron (B) belongs to main group 13 and is essential to the growth of plants. It is also used widely in industry. It is a black semiconductor and it is very hard (9.3 on Mohs scale). Its atomic number is 5, atomic weight 10.8, melting point 2,200C (4,000 F) and boiling point 2,550 C (4,620 F).

Answer: Metalloid

Germanium (Ge) belongs to main group 14 and has a silvery-gray colour. It was discovered in 1886 by a German scientist. Its atomic number is 32, atomic weight 72.63, melting point 937.4 C (1,719.3 F) and boiling point 2,830 C (5,130 F).

Answer: Metalloid

Silicon (Si) belongs to main group 14. It makes up 27.7 percent of the Earth's crust, making it the second most abundant element there. The name comes from the Latin word for hard stone. Its atomic number is 14, atomic weight 28.086, melting point 1,410 C (2,570 F) and boiling point 3,265 C (5,909 F).

Answer: Metalloid

Tellurium (Te) belongs to main group 16. It is silvery white and is rarely used. Its atomic number is 52, atomic weight 127.60, melting point 449.8 C (841.6 F) and boiling point 989.9 C (1,813.8 F).