Which of the following elements is most likely to bend without breaking due to its metallic character?

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

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of metallic character: Metallic character refers to how readily an element can lose electrons to form positive ions, which is associated with properties like malleability and ductility (ability to bend without breaking).
2. Recall that metals tend to be malleable because their atoms are arranged in a lattice with delocalized electrons that allow layers of atoms to slide past each other without breaking bonds.
3. Identify the elements given: O (oxygen), Na (sodium), Cl (chlorine), and S (sulfur). Among these, sodium (Na) is a metal, while oxygen, chlorine, and sulfur are nonmetals.
4. Since sodium is a metal with metallic bonding, it has the characteristic malleability and can bend without breaking, unlike the nonmetals which are generally brittle and do not exhibit metallic bonding.
5. Therefore, the element most likely to bend without breaking due to its metallic character is sodium (Na).