Question

Which of the following is true of elements in the same group or family?

a) They are likely to have the same number of electron orbital shells
b) Their atomic numbers are close together
c) They have similar atomic masses
d) They are likely to have similar chemical compounds

Answer 1

Elements in the same group or family of the periodic table have similar chemical properties because they have the same number of valence electrons.

Step-by-step explanation:

The elements in the same group or family of the periodic table have similar chemical properties because they have the same number of valence electrons. Valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost energy level or shell of an atom.

These electrons determine the element's chemical behavior and reactivity. Since elements in the same group have the same number of valence electrons, they are likely to form similar chemical compounds. For example, all elements in Group 1 or the alkali metals have one valence electron and tend to form compounds with a +1 charge.