Which one of the following elements is found as a molecular solid at room temperature and pressure?
a) S
b) N
c) Al
d) Br
e) Si

How do you approach a problem like this?

Question

Which one of the following elements is found as a molecular solid at room temperature and pressure?
a) S
b) N
c) Al
d) Br
e) Si

How do you approach a problem like this?

aaronq · Answer

molecular = non-metal

then from there you have to know how big the molecules are (larger molecules have larger intermolecular london dispersion forces).

anonymous · Answer

so Br would be larger than Si since it's more lower on the periodic table, right? since it's a nonmetal, it'll be Br?

aaronq · Answer

hm Si is a metalloid, thus not a non-metal

$Br_2$ is a liquid at room temp; Sulfur makes $S_8$ molecules - which are very large and are solids.

The problem with these kinds of questions is that you have to already know the answer, it's very hard to predict it.

anonymous · Answer

so it would be S right? since N is a gas, Al is a metal, Si is a metalloid and Br2 is a liquid at room temp

aaronq · Answer

yes it would

anonymous · Answer

Thank you very much, good sir!

aaronq · Answer

no problem !