Final answer:
The second row of the periodic table corresponds to the 2s and 2p subshells, with lithium and beryllium filling the s subshell, while boron through neon fill the p subshell, reflecting the question's answer of b) The row corresponds to p-subshells.
Step-by-step explanation:
The second row, or period, of the periodic table reflects the subshells of the second shell in the way it organizes the elements based on their electron configurations. In the second period, for example, the row starts with lithium (Li) and beryllium (Be) which fill the 2s subshell, corresponding to the left-most two columns, known as the s block. As we move to the right with boron (B) through neon (Ne), these reflect the filling of the 2p subshell, corresponding to the six columns on the right, known as the p block. The answer to the question is b) The row corresponds to p-subshells, after the first two elements which correspond to the s-subshell. This period does not include elements belonging to the d-subshells or f-subshells.
Understanding this arrangement is paramount when studying the periodic table, as it reveals the underlying quantum mechanical principles governing the structure of atoms. It shows the recurring pattern of how electrons populate the available energy levels and subshells within an atom.