Can someone please help me with these chemistry questions...I just don't get it!

Question

1. Using the following elements, rank them in order of increasing melting points, based on the periodic trend for melting point: Sr, Mg, Be, Ba?

Would it be Be, Mg, Sr, Ba or would it be Ba, Sr, Mg, Be?

I know what the questions asking for but I get so confused when it wants them in increasing orders!

2. Using the following elements, rank them in order of increasing radius, based on the periodic trend for melting point: Li, Li+1, Rb, Rb+1?

Would this be Li, Li+1, Rb, Rb+1, is that correct?

Thanks for the help in advance ;-)

Answer 1

Increasing means from lowest to highest in order.
One would expect the order to be
Ba, Sr, Mg, Be but in fact Mg is the lowest.

2. Li^+1 is smaller than Li, Rb^+1 is smaller than Rb. Rb is larger than Li.
Your question got melting point mixed up with it and that doesn't have anything to do with the radius.
LI^+, Li, Rb^+, Rb in order of smallest to largest.