Read the following passage and answer the next five questions based on it.
The transition metals are very hard and have low volatility. Their melting and boiling points are high. In any row, the melting points of these metals rise to a maximum at d5 and fall regularly as atomic number increases. The high melting points of these metals are attributed to the involvement of greater number of electrons from (n – 1)d in addition to ns electrons in the interatomic metallic bonding.
Which transition metal has the highest melting point ?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → W
Melting points are highest for the transition metals with the most unpaired d electrons available for metallic bonding, and the metals of the 4d and 5d series generally melt higher than those of the 3d series. So the highest melting points are found in the middle of the third (5d) series. Tungsten (W, [Xe]4f145d46s2) has the highest melting point of all metals.