Final answer:
An element will have properties similar to those of another element in the same group due to the same number and distribution of valence electrons, which leads to similar chemical behaviors.
Step-by-step explanation:
An element is most likely to have properties similar to those of another element in the same group rather than one in the same period or a noble gas. In the periodic table, elements are arranged in order of increasing atomic number in rows known as periods and columns known as groups. The elements in the same group have the same number and distribution of electrons in their valence shells, resulting in similar chemical behavior. For instance, elements in Group 1 are known as the alkali metals, Group 17 as the halogens, and Group 18 as the noble gases. The properties of elements in the same group share more common characteristics such as reactivity and types of compounds they form, compared to elements in the same period.