Which of the following elements is most likely to be malleable and ductile?

• A. S (sulfur)
• B. O (oxygen)
• C. Cl (chlorine)
• D. Na (sodium)

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the properties of malleability and ductility: these are characteristics of metals, allowing them to be hammered into sheets (malleable) and drawn into wires (ductile).
2. Identify the type of elements given: S (sulfur), O (oxygen), and Cl (chlorine) are nonmetals, while Na (sodium) is a metal.
3. Recall that metals generally have metallic bonding, which allows layers of atoms to slide over each other without breaking the structure, leading to malleability and ductility.
4. Nonmetals like sulfur, oxygen, and chlorine typically form covalent or molecular structures that are brittle or gaseous, lacking the metallic bonding needed for malleability and ductility.
5. Therefore, among the options, Na (sodium) is most likely to be malleable and ductile because it is a metal with metallic bonding.