This question is about metals, non-metals, and chemical bonding.
Figure 1 shows an outline of part of the periodic table with regions labeled W, X, Y, and Z.
Element A is a shiny solid that has a low density, is soft enough to be cut with a knife, and reacts vigorously with water. Which section of the periodic table in Figure 1 is most likely to contain element A?
Element B can form ions with different charges, such as B2+\text{B}^{2+}B2+ or B3+\text{B}^{3+}B3+, and can be used as a catalyst. Which section of the periodic table in Figure 1 is most likely to contain element B?
Give two physical differences between the elements in Region X (transition metals) and those in Region W (alkali metals).
Sodium oxide (Na2O\text{Na}_2\text{O}Na2O) is an ionic compound formed from the metal sodium and the non-metal oxygen. Describing the process in terms of electrons, explain what happens when sodium atoms react with oxygen atoms to form sodium oxide.