Which one of the following elements is most metallic?

Options

A. P
B. As
C. Sb
D. Bi

Answer

To determine which of the given elements is the most metallic, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Identify the Elements
The elements given in the question are from the phosphorus family (Group 15 of the periodic table). The elements in this group include:
- Nitrogen (N)
- Phosphorus (P)
- Arsenic (As)
- Antimony (Sb)
- Bismuth (Bi)

### Step 2: Classify the Elements
Next, we classify each of these elements based on their metallic character:
- **Nitrogen (N)**: Nonmetal
- **Phosphorus (P)**: Nonmetal
- **Arsenic (As)**: Metalloid
- **Antimony (Sb)**: Metalloid
- **Bismuth (Bi)**: Metal

### Step 3: Understand the Trend in Metallic Character
In general, metallic character increases as you move down a group in the periodic table. This is because the atomic size increases, and the outer electrons are further from the nucleus, making them easier to lose.

### Step 4: Apply the Trend to the Elements
Based on the trend:
- Nitrogen and phosphorus are nonmetals, thus they have low metallic character.
- Arsenic and antimony are metalloids, which have intermediate metallic character.
- Bismuth, being a metal, has the highest metallic character among these elements.

### Step 5: Conclusion
Since bismuth (Bi) is the only metal in the group and has the highest metallic character, it is the most metallic element among the options provided.

**Final Answer**: Bismuth (Bi) is the most metallic element.

---