Question

unless otherwise instructed, you may use the periodic table in the chemistry: problems and solutions book for this question. which element is most likely the best conductor of heat? p cl c as

Explanation:

To determine the best heat conductor, we analyze the elements:

• Phosphorus (P): A non - metal, non - metals are generally poor conductors of heat.
• Chlorine (Cl): A non - metal, exists as a gas at room temperature and is a very poor heat conductor.
• Carbon (C): In most of its allotropes (like graphite and diamond), graphite is a good conductor but diamond is not. However, compared to metalloids and non - metals, its conductivity is not as high as that of metalloids in some cases.
• Arsenic (As): It is a metalloid. Metalloids have properties intermediate between metals and non - metals. Among the given options (where P, Cl are non - metals and C is a non - metal/has varied conductivity in allotropes), metalloids are generally better heat conductors than non - metals. So, As is more likely to be a better heat conductor than the other non - metal options.

Answer:

As (Arsenic) is the most likely best conductor of heat among the given options.