Elements that are typically gases at room temperature and poor conductors are classified as which?

Elements that are typically gases at room temperature and poor conductors are classified as which?

• A. Metals
• B. Metalloids
• C. Nonmetals
• D. Noble gases

Answer: (C)

Gases at room temperature and poor conductors describe nonmetals. Nonmetals tend to be poor conductors of heat and electricity, and many are gases at room temperature (like hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and chlorine). While some nonmetals are solids (such as sulfur and phosphorus), they still don’t conduct well. Metals, in contrast, are good conductors, and metalloids have mixed properties, so they don’t fit as cleanly. Noble gases are a subgroup of nonmetals that are gases at room temperature, but the broad category that matches this combination of traits is nonmetals.

Gases at room temperature and poor conductors describe nonmetals. Nonmetals tend to be poor conductors of heat and electricity, and many are gases at room temperature (like hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and chlorine). While some nonmetals are solids (such as sulfur and phosphorus), they still don’t conduct well. Metals, in contrast, are good conductors, and metalloids have mixed properties, so they don’t fit as cleanly. Noble gases are a subgroup of nonmetals that are gases at room temperature, but the broad category that matches this combination of traits is nonmetals.