Why are alloys that second-row nonmetals (such as B, C, and N) form with transit

Question

Why are alloys that second-row nonmetals (such as B, C, and N) form with transition metals more likely to be interstitial than substitutional?

A) The second-row nonmetals are so large that they have huge interstitial voids, which makes it easy to insert other elements.

B) The second-row nonmetals are approximately the same size as most transition metal, making it easy to fit them in the intersitial voids.   

C) The ratio of the radius of the second-row nonmetals to the radius of the transition metals is less than 1.15:1, which favors interstitial insertion over direct substitution.

D) The transition metals have radii that are >120 pm while the second-row nonmetals have radii that are <90 pm, making substitution easy but interstitial insertion easy.

Explanation / Answer

The correct answer is D) The transition metals have radii that are >120 pm while the second-row nonmetals have radii that are <90 pm, making substitution easy but interstitial insertion easy.

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