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
- C
They retain metallic conductivity
- D
They are chemically inert and usually non-stoichiometric
Interstitial compounds form when small atoms (H, B, C, N) occupy the interstices of a transition-metal lattice. They are characteristically very hard (some borides rival diamond), have high melting points, retain metallic conductivity, and are chemically inert and often non-stoichiometric.
The description "very soft, ionic in nature" contradicts these characteristics, so option (2) is the false statement.
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