Question

Which period of the periodic table (a) has no metals? (b) has no nonmetals? (c) has one post-transition metal and two metalloids?

Short answer

Question: Identify the period in the periodic table that matches each description. a) Period with no metals. b) Period with no nonmetals. c) Period with one post-transition metal and two metalloids. Answer: a) Period 1 b) Period 6 (with fewest nonmetals) c) Period 4

Step-by-step solution

(a) Period with no metals

To find the period with no metals, we look for a row where all the elements are nonmetals. Only period 1 meets this criterion, as it contains only hydrogen and helium, which are both nonmetals. So, the answer is period 1.

(b) Period with no nonmetals

To find the period with no nonmetals, we need to identify a row where all the elements are metals. The best candidate is period 6, which mostly consists of metals (although there are some metalloids and transition metals). Due to the fact that all periods contain at least one nonmetal, there is no period that is entirely made up of metals. However, period 6 has fewest nonmetals among all periods.

(c) Period with one post-transition metal and two metalloids

To find the period with one post-transition metal and two metalloids, we need to examine the period that meets both characteristics simultaneously. Period 4 fits this criterion, as it contains germanium (Ge) and silicon (Si) which are the two metalloids, and tin (Sn) which is a post-transition metal. So, the answer is period 4.