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Answer the following.
The melting and boiling points of Zn, Cd and Hg are low. Why?
Answer
Answer
Official answer keyBecause the d-subshell is completely filled ($d^{10}$), all d electrons are paired and do not take part in metallic bonding; the metallic bonds are weak (only the two s electrons are involved), so the melting and boiling points are low.
From ISC 2026 Specimen Chemistry Paper 1, question 8(ii).