Is disodium gas a metal?

1 Answer
Jan 9, 2017

Well, let's put it this way: is a gas like a metal? If the answer to that is yes, then #"Na"_2(g)# would have metallic properties.

Clearly, a gas is not a solid, so it is not expected for it to be able to express even a few properties of a metal. Some are below:

  • ductile (able to be pulled into wires)
  • malleable (able to be flattened)
  • electrically conductive

You can put your hand through #"Na"_2(g)#, so it is not possible to pull it into wires or flatten it. If anything, it might be conductive, but that may be it.