Chapter 9, Problem 94A

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: The validity of the given statement is to be evaluated.

Concept Introduction: The physical and most of the chemical properties of an element can be predicted from its position in the periodic table. It is due to the periodicity in properties of elements which depends on the number of valence electrons of each element.

Answer to Problem 94A

The statement that, “the ionic charge of any metal can be determined from the position of the element in the periodic table” is not fully correct.

Explanation of Solution

Even though the statement holds for the metal among representative elements, it does not hold for all metals in the periodic table. The metals in the d-block show variable valency, hence we can’t predict their charge just by looking at their position in the periodic table.