Among the common non metals listed, which element is found in the liquid state at room temperature?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Bromine

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question examines knowledge of the physical states of non metals at room temperature. Most elements are either solids or gases under standard conditions, and only a very small number are liquids. Knowing which non metal is liquid at room temperature is a classic general knowledge and chemistry question that often appears in school examinations and competitive tests.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The elements listed are chlorine, bromine, fluorine, iodine, and neon.
  • Room temperature is assumed to be about 25 degrees Celsius.
  • We must identify which of these non metals is liquid at this temperature.


Concept / Approach:
At room temperature, most halogens and noble gases have well known physical states. Fluorine and chlorine are gases, bromine is a heavy reddish brown liquid, and iodine is a solid that can sublime. Neon is a noble gas and remains gaseous at room temperature. Among the given options, bromine is the only non metal that occurs as a liquid under standard room conditions.


Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Recall the halogens: fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine form a group with gradually changing physical states. Step 2: Fluorine and chlorine are light, pale colored gases at room temperature. Step 3: Bromine is a dark reddish brown liquid that releases orange vapors and is the only liquid non metal at room temperature. Step 4: Iodine is a dark solid at room temperature which can sublime to give violet vapors. Step 5: Neon is a colorless noble gas, not a liquid at room temperature.


Verification / Alternative check:
Standard periodic table references and chemistry textbooks highlight bromine as one of the only two elements that are liquid at room temperature, the other being mercury, which is a metal. Charts of states of elements usually show bromine with a special color marking it as a liquid non metal. Laboratory bottles of bromine contain a heavy, fuming liquid, which is easily recognizable. All these confirmations support bromine as the correct answer.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • Chlorine: A greenish yellow gas at room temperature.
  • Fluorine: A very reactive pale yellow gas under standard conditions.
  • Iodine: A solid at room temperature, forming violet vapors when heated.
  • Neon: A noble gas that remains gaseous at room temperature and is used in discharge lamps.


Common Pitfalls:
Some learners misremember iodine as a liquid because it produces visible vapors, but it is actually a solid that sublimes. Others may think chlorine is a liquid due to images of pressurized cylinders, but in those cases it is compressed, not naturally liquid at room temperature. Remembering that the only common liquid non metal at room temperature is bromine helps answer many quick general knowledge questions accurately.


Final Answer:
The non metal found in liquid state at room temperature is Bromine.

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