Which of the following is NOT a physical or chemical characteristics of interstitial compounds?
- (A)They have high melting points, higher than those of pure metals
- (B)They are very soft ionic in nature✓ Correct
- (C)They retain metallic conductivity
- (D)They are chemically inert and usually nonstoichiometric
Answer: (B)
Solution
Interstitial compounds arise when small atoms such as hydrogen, carbon or nitrogen occupy the voids of a metal lattice. They keep the metallic lustre and electrical conductivity, melt at temperatures even higher than the parent metal, and are very hard and chemically rather inert, frequently of variable, non-stoichiometric composition. They are hard and non-ionic, so the description of them as very soft and ionic in nature is not a characteristic of interstitial compounds.
JEE Main · 2026 · 05 Apr 2026 · Shift 1 · Single correct option