To determine which element would have properties most similar to lithium (which has 3 protons, 4 neutrons, and 3 electrons), we should look for an element that has the same number of protons (which dictates the element's identity) and a similar electron configuration.
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An element with 11 protons, 11 neutrons, and 11 electrons: This is sodium (Na), which is in the same group as lithium, but it has more protons and is therefore not similar enough.
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An element with 4 protons, 4 neutrons, and 3 electrons: This element is beryllium (Be). It has fewer protons, and although it has the same number of electrons as lithium, its chemical properties are not similar.
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An element with 12 protons, 12 neutrons, and 12 electrons: This element is magnesium (Mg), which is also in the same group as lithium but has more protons and is not similar enough.
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An element with 10 protons, 12 neutrons, and 10 electrons: This element is neon (Ne), which is a noble gas and has a very different set of properties compared to lithium.
Given these options, while none are directly similar to lithium in terms of the number of protons, the better option may be the element with 4 protons, 4 neutrons, and 3 electrons (beryllium), as it has a similar electron count and is in the same period of the periodic table, making it somewhat comparable. However, it’s important to note that no option is an exact match.
For a more accurate comparison in terms of chemical properties, the best choice related to lithium would typically involve looking at elements in the same group (alkali metals), but none of the given options fits the criteria exactly.
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