Question

Lithium has 3 protons, 4 neutrons, and 3 electrons. An element with which of these particles would have properties most similar to lithium?
A. An element with 4 protons, 4 neutrons, and 3 electrons
B. an element with 10 protons, 12 neutrons, and 10 electrons
C. An element with 12 protons, 12 neutrons, and 12 electrons
D. An element with 11 protons, 11 neutrons, and 11 electrons

Answer 1

To find an element with properties most similar to lithium, we need to consider the atomic structure of lithium, which has 3 protons, 3 electrons, and an atomic mass represented by the total number of protons and neutrons (3 protons + 4 neutrons = 7 mass number).

The properties of elements are primarily determined by their electronic configuration, which is influenced by the number of protons (which defines the element) and the number of electrons (which determines the charge).

Let’s analyze each option:

A. An element with 4 protons, 4 neutrons, and 3 electrons.
- This element has 4 protons, making it beryllium (Be). It has more protons than lithium, so it will have different properties.

B. An element with 10 protons, 12 neutrons, and 10 electrons.
- With 10 protons, this element is neon (Ne). It has a full outer shell and will behave very differently from lithium.

C. An element with 12 protons, 12 neutrons, and 12 electrons.
- This element is magnesium (Mg), which is also different from lithium due to the increased number of protons and a different electron configuration.

D. An element with 11 protons, 11 neutrons, and 11 electrons.
- With 11 protons, this element is sodium (Na). Sodium is in the same group (Group 1) as lithium on the periodic table, meaning it has similar chemical properties due to the similar electron configuration in their outer shell.

The correct answer is D. An element with 11 protons, 11 neutrons, and 11 electrons (sodium) would have properties most similar to lithium.