Question

First: Identify the element from clue 16 ---- Period 6, Group 1. (Name and Atomic number, please 2 points) Second: you must "cross a divide". When you land back on "solid ground" there is a silvery white metal with an average mass of 178.5 amu. From there --- add 7 protons! Identify the element and describe the final steps you used to solve this last clue! (4 points)

Answer 1

First: The element in Period 6, Group 1 is Francium with the atomic number 87.

Second: The phrase "cross a divide" typically refers to moving from one section of the periodic table to another. In this context, "solid ground" could refer to a solid element, and "a silvery white metal with an average mass of 178.5 amu" points to Tantalum, which has an atomic mass of approximately 180.95 amu and is indeed a silvery-white metal.

Next, to "add 7 protons," you take the atomic number of Tantalum, which is 73, and add 7:

73 + 7 = 80.

The element with atomic number 80 is Mercury (Hg).

In summary, starting with Francium (atomic number 87), identifying Tantalum (approximately 178.5 amu), and then adding 7 protons gives you Mercury (atomic number 80).