Question
Which of the following is NOT a physical or chemical characteristics of interstitial compounds?
JEE Main
Chemistry
d and f Block Elements
2026
JEE Main 2026 (05 April Shift 1)
JEE Main Chemistry Question (2026) — Solution
Options
- A. They have high melting points, higher than those of pure metals.
- B. They are very soft and ionic in nature.
- C. They retain metallic conductivity.
- D. They are chemically inert and usually non-stoichiometric.
Answer
B. They are very soft and ionic in nature.
Step-by-step solution
Interstitial compounds are formed when small atoms like H, C, or N are trapped inside the crystal lattices of transition metals. The principal physical and chemical characteristics of interstitial compounds are: (i) They have high melting points, higher than those of pure metals. (ii) They are very hard, and some borides approach diamond in hardness. (iii) They retain metallic conductivity. (iv) They are chemically inert. (v) They are usually non-stoichiometric. Therefore, the statement that they are very soft and ionic in nature is incorrect. They are very hard and are neither typically ionic nor covalent. Answer: They are very soft and ionic in nature.
Related: Chemistry — d and f Block Elements · All PYQ Banks