The correct answer is (4) Liquid-Solid.
An amalgam is an alloy that contains mercury as one of its components. The amalgam of mercury with sodium is a specific example. Let's break down the explanation in detail:
Amalgam:
An amalgam is a type of alloy that involves the combination of mercury with one or more other metals. Mercury has the unique property of being able to form alloys, or amalgams, with many other metals. This is due to its ability to bond with the metal atoms, creating a stable mixture.
Mercury (Hg):
Mercury is a liquid metal at room temperature and is often referred to as a transition metal. Its unique properties, such as liquidity at room temperature and the ability to form amalgams, make it valuable in various applications.
Sodium (Na):
Sodium is a solid metal at room temperature and is an alkali metal. It belongs to Group 1 of the periodic table. Sodium is highly reactive, especially with water, and forms various compounds.
Amalgam of Mercury with Sodium:
When sodium is combined with mercury, it forms an amalgam. The reaction involves the dissolution of sodium in liquid mercury. The resulting amalgam is typically a liquid at room temperature. This amalgam can be used for various purposes, such as in certain types of chemical reactions or in the extraction of gold from its ores.
Solute-Solvent Combination:
In the context of the amalgam of mercury with sodium, we have a liquid (mercury) and a solid (sodium). The liquid mercury acts as the solvent, and the solid sodium is the solute. Therefore, this is an example of a liquid-solid solute-solvent combination.
So, in summary, the amalgam of mercury with sodium is a liquid-solid solute-solvent combination, where mercury (liquid) is the solvent, and sodium (solid) is the solute. |
