Question

What does niobium have in common with the rest of the elements?

A) Niobium is a noble gas.

B) Niobium is a transition metal.

C) Niobium is a halogen.

D) Niobium is an alkali metal.

Answer 1

Niobium is a transition metal like iron and cobalt, falling into category B as a member of the transition metals on the periodic table. It is not a noble gas, halogen, or alkali metal.

Step-by-step explanation:

The element niobium has something in common with the rest of the elements on the periodic table because it fits into one of the categories based on its properties. Specifically, the correct answer is that niobium is a transition metal.

• Noble gases are group 18 elements, characterized by having full energy orbitals and being chemically inert.
• Halogens are group 17 elements known for being very reactive nonmetals.
• Alkali metals are group 1 elements that are highly reactive and have a single electron in their outermost shell.

Niobium is found in group 5 of the periodic table and shares the general properties of transition metals, such as forming colored compounds, having high melting points, and being good conductors of electricity. Therefore, option B is correct.