High School

Is Aluminum a metal, nonmetal, or metalloid?

1) Metal
2) Nonmetal
3) Metalloid

Answer :

The correct answer is option 1).

Aluminum is a metal based on its position in group 13 of the periodic table. It exhibits traditional metallic properties like shininess, malleability, and excellent conductivity.

Aluminum is classified as a metal based on its location in the periodic table. It is located in group 13 of the periodic table, which is composed of elements that are metals. Aluminum possesses properties typical of metals, such as being shiny, malleable, ductile, and a good conductor of electricity and heat.

Final answer:

Aluminum is a metal, and this is also true for indium based on its position in the periodic table. Indium is a shiny, conductive main-group element that shares common metallic properties. Thus, option 1 is correct.

Explanation:

Aluminum is classified as a metal based on its properties and location on the periodic table. Thus, option 1 is correct. Indium (In), similar to aluminum, is also a metal. Metals are typically shiny, silvery in color, excellent conductors of electricity and heat, malleable, and ductile. Nonmetals, on the other hand, tend to be dull and poor conductors of heat and electricity and are often very brittle in their solid state. Metalloids have properties that are intermediate between metals and nonmetals, and they are located along a staircase line on the periodic table. This line, however, excludes aluminum which is a metal despite being close to this dividing line. When classifying elements like indium, it is important to consider its group and period which indicate that it is a metal, specifically a main-group element.