Step 1: Electronic Configuration and Bonding - Zn, Cd, and Hg belong to Group 12 and have a completely filled d\(^ {10}\) configuration. - The lack of unpaired d-electrons reduces the extent of metallic bonding, making these metals soft with low melting and boiling points.
Step 2: Weak Interatomic Forces - In transition metals, strong metallic bonding arises due to overlapping of d-orbitals. - However, in Zn, Cd, and Hg, fully filled d-orbitals do not contribute to bonding, resulting in weak interatomic forces and low melting/boiling points.



A ladder of fixed length \( h \) is to be placed along the wall such that it is free to move along the height of the wall.
Based upon the above information, answer the following questions:
(iii) (b) If the foot of the ladder, whose length is 5 m, is being pulled towards the wall such that the rate of decrease of distance \( y \) is \( 2 \, \text{m/s} \), then at what rate is the height on the wall \( x \) increasing when the foot of the ladder is 3 m away from the wall?