Question

Which of the following statements conforms to the trends within the Periodic Table of the Elements?

a. Elements become more likely to be gases at the bottom of a group.

b. Elements become more likely to be a solid at the bottom of a group.

c. Elements become more likely to be darkly colored at the bottom of a group.

d. Elements become more likely to be more brittle at the bottom of a group.

Answer 1

The statement that conforms to the trends within the Periodic Table is that elements become more likely to be a solid at the bottom of a group, due to the increase in atomic size and metallic character.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question concerns observed trends within the Periodic Table of the Elements. Based on scientific findings, as we move down a group in the periodic table, the metallic character of the elements increases, and we generally see a transition from gases or liquids to solids due to the increase in atomic size and mass.

For example, in Group 16 (6A), oxygen at the top is a gas, selenium in the middle is a solid, and polonium at the bottom is also a solid. Drawing on this trend, the most accurate statement is (b) Elements become more likely to be a solid at the bottom of a group. This is because each subsequent element in a group has an additional electron shell, leading to larger atomic sizes and higher boiling points, resulting in more elements being in the solid state at room temperature.

Additionally, elements toward the bottom of a group tend to have lower ionization energy compared to those above. This again aligns with the increased atomic size and the more metallic character of the elements as you move down a group. While the color and brittleness of elements can vary, they are not trends that consistently increase or decrease down a group in a predictable manner like the state of matter does.

Answer 2

Elements become more likely to be a solid at the bottom of a group, in line with the trend that metallic character increases as one moves down a group in the periodic table. (Option B).

Step-by-step explanation:

The question is about understanding the trends within the Periodic Table of the Elements.

According to these trends, as we move down a group in the periodic table, the metallic character of the elements increases, which means the elements become more likely to be a solid at the bottom of a group. For instance, in Group 16 (6A), oxygen is a gas at the top, while polonium at the bottom of the group is a silver-grey solid. Therefore, the correct answer is b.

Elements become more likely to be a solid at the bottom of a group. (Option B).