Question

Consider the elements oxygen, fluorine, argon, sulfur, potassium, and strontium. From this group of elements, which ones fit the descriptions below? (a) Two elements that are metals (b) Four elements that are nonmetals (c) Three elements that are solid at room temperature (d) An element that is found in nature as \(\mathrm{X}_{8}\) (e) One pair of elements that may form a molecular compound (f) One pair of elements that may form an ionic compound with formula AX (g) One pair of elements that may form an ionic compound with formula \(\mathrm{AX}_{2}\) (h) One pair of elements that may form an ionic compound with formula \(\mathrm{A}_{2} \mathrm{X}\) (i) An element that can form no compounds (j) Three elements that are gases at room temperature

Short answer

Question: Identify two elements from the list that are metals. Answer: Potassium (K) and Strontium (Sr) are metals.

Step-by-step solution

(a) Two elements that are metals

From the list, Potassium (K) and Strontium (Sr) are metals.

(b) Four elements that are nonmetals

The nonmetals in the list are Oxygen (O), Fluorine (F), Argon (Ar), and Sulfur (S).

(c) Three elements that are solid at room temperature

The solids at room temperature are Sulfur (S), Potassium (K), and Strontium (Sr).

(d) An element that is found in nature as \(\mathrm{X}_{8}\)

Oxygen (O) is found in nature as \(\mathrm{O}_{8}\), which means it is the element with the given description.

(e) One pair of elements that may form a molecular compound

Oxygen (O) and Sulfur (S) can form a molecular compound (e.g., \(\mathrm{SO}_{2}\) or sulfur dioxide).

(f) One pair of elements that may form an ionic compound with formula AX

Potassium (K) and Fluorine (F) can form an ionic compound with formula \(\mathrm{K}_{1}\mathrm{F}_{1}\), simplified to KF.

(g) One pair of elements that may form an ionic compound with formula \(\mathrm{AX}_{2}\)

Strontium (Sr) and Oxygen (O) can form an ionic compound with the formula \(\mathrm{Sr}_{1}\mathrm{O}_{2}\), simplified to SrO\(_2\).

(h) One pair of elements that may form an ionic compound with formula \(\mathrm{A}_{2} \mathrm{X}\)

Potassium (K) and Sulfur (S) can form an ionic compound with the formula \(\mathrm{K}_{2}\mathrm{S}_{1}\), simplified to K\(_2\)S.

(i) An element that can form no compounds

Argon (Ar) is a noble gas and cannot form compounds due to its stable electron configuration.

(j) Three elements that are gases at room temperature

Oxygen (O), Fluorine (F), and Argon (Ar) are gases at room temperature.