Question

While looking at bromine (Br) on the periodic table, a student needs to find another element with very similar chemical properties but with a different atomic mass. Which best describes the student’s options? There are two possible elements, and they are directly to the left and right of bromine. There are two possible elements, and they are directly above and below bromine. There are many possible elements, and they are all in the same vertical column as bromine. There are many possible elements, and they are all in the same horizontal row as bromine.

Answer 1

Answer: There are many possible elements, and they are all in the same vertical column as bromine.

Explanation:

In a periodic table, the elements are arranged according to the atomic number. The elements arranged in the same vertical column (known as groups) have same valence configuration and therefore have same chemical properties. Hence, there would be more possible elements having same chemical properties in the same vertical column (group) as Bromine.

Answer 2

Answer:  There are many possible elements, and they are all in the same vertical column as bromine

Explanation: All the elements in the same vertical columns or same groups have similar chemical properties due to the presence of similar valence shell configurations but have different masses as the number of protons and neutrons keep on increasing on moving down the group.

All the halogens (members of fluorine group) are short of one electron each to attain their stable noble gas configuration and hence behave similarly.

$[X]:ns^2np^5$

The elements present in the same horizontal row or same period differ in the chemical properties as they have different valence shell configurations.