Explanation:
Knowing the number of valence electrons in one of the alien elements helps in identifying it because the number of valence electrons can help categorize the alien element. Similar elements have the same valence electrons and knowing the category of the element can help further analyze the element.
Answer:
Cyclopropane has a planar carbon back bone while propane does not
Explanation:
We have to recognize that in straight chain saturated organic compounds, carbon atoms have a tetrahedral geometry. Each carbon atom is bonded to four other atoms.
However, carbon atoms in cyclic compounds are also sp3 hybridized with each carbon bonded to only four other atoms but the ring system is highly strained.
Cyclopropane is a necessarily planar molecule with a bond angle that is far less than the expected tetrahedral bond angle due to strain in the molecule. Hence, the carbon atoms may have have a "planar backbone".
Well, an element is a substance that cannot be decomposed into a simpler substance by chemical change, so element is the answer you are probably looking for! Hope this helps!