The metallic luster exhibited by sodium is explained by

Options

A. Diffusion of `Na^(+)` ions
B. Oscillation of loose electrons
C. Excitation of free proton
D. Existence of body centred cubic lattice

Answer

To explain the metallic luster exhibited by sodium, we can break down the reasoning into a step-by-step solution:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Sodium's Properties**:
- Sodium (Na) is an alkali metal located in Group 1 of the periodic table.
- It has an atomic number of 11, which means it has 11 electrons.

2. **Electronic Configuration**:
- The electronic configuration of sodium is 2, 8, 1. This indicates that sodium has one electron in its outermost shell (the third shell).

3. **Metallic Nature of Sodium**:
- As a metal, sodium has properties such as conductivity and metallic luster. The luster is a characteristic shine that metals exhibit.

4. **Role of Electrons**:
- In metals, including sodium, there are free or "loose" electrons that are not tightly bound to any particular atom. These electrons can move freely throughout the metallic structure.

5. **Interaction with Light**:
- When light strikes the surface of sodium, these free electrons absorb energy and become excited, moving to higher energy levels.

6. **Oscillation of Electrons**:
- After being excited, the electrons do not stay in the higher energy state. They oscillate around their original positions and eventually return to their ground state.

7. **Emission of Light**:
- As the electrons return to their lower energy state, they release energy in the form of light. This emitted light is what gives sodium its characteristic metallic luster.

8. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, the metallic luster exhibited by sodium is primarily explained by the oscillation of loose electrons when light interacts with the metal.

### Final Answer:
The metallic luster exhibited by sodium is explained by the oscillation of loose electrons.

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