To determine which of the provided options has properties most similar to lithium, we need to consider which elements belong to the same group on the periodic table. Lithium (Li) has an atomic number of 3 (indicating it has 3 protons) and is located in Group 1, which contains the alkali metals.
The options you provided can be analyzed as follows:
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An element with 11 protons, 11 neutrons, and 11 electrons.
This element has an atomic number of 11, which corresponds to sodium (Na), another alkali metal. It will have similar chemical properties due to being in the same group. -
An element with 4 protons, 4 neutrons, and 3 electrons.
This element with 4 protons is beryllium (Be). It's in Group 2 and has different properties compared to lithium. -
An element with 12 protons, 12 neutrons, and 12 electrons.
This element has an atomic number of 12, which corresponds to magnesium (Mg), another alkaline earth metal and has different properties compared to lithium. -
An element with 10 protons, 12 neutrons, and 10 electrons.
This element with 10 protons is neon (Ne), a noble gas that has very different properties from lithium.
Based on this analysis, the element with 11 protons, 11 neutrons, and 11 electrons (sodium) will have properties most similar to lithium because both are alkali metals (members of the same group).
So the answer is: An element with 11 protons, 11 neutrons, and 11 electrons.