Which of the following trends can be observed when moving down a column in the Periodic Table?
Question 1 options:
The atomic mass decreases.
The number of valence electrons remains the same.
The number of orbitals decreases.
The possible number of bonds formed decreases.
The possible number of bonds formed decreases.
When moving down a column in the Periodic Table, the trend that can be observed is that the atomic mass increases (option 1). The atomic mass of elements increases because as you move down a group, the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons increases.
The number of valence electrons may vary as you move down a column, so option 2 is not always true. Valence electrons are the electrons present in the outermost energy level of an atom and determine its chemical properties. Although elements in the same column have the same number of valence electron shells, the number of valence electrons can differ.
The number of orbitals also increases as you move down a column, so option 3 is not correct. Orbitals are regions in an atom where electrons are likely to be found.
The possible number of bonds formed is not solely determined by the position in a column, so option 4 is not always true. The ability of an element to form bonds depends on various factors, including the number of valence electrons and the electron configuration of the element.
In summary, the trend that can be observed when moving down a column in the Periodic Table is that the atomic mass increases (option 1).
To determine which trend can be observed when moving down a column in the Periodic Table, we need to understand the periodicity of the elements.
Moving down a column, also known as a group or a family, in the Periodic Table corresponds to increasing atomic number and adding a new energy level or shell. This means that the outermost energy level, also called the valence shell, is further away from the nucleus as you move down the group.
Based on this information, let's analyze each of the given options:
1. The atomic mass decreases: This option is incorrect. Moving down a group in the Periodic Table generally results in an increase in atomic mass. This is because each subsequent element in the group has more protons and neutrons in its nucleus.
2. The number of valence electrons remains the same: This option is also incorrect. The number of valence electrons increases by one as you move down each group in the Periodic Table. This is because each element in the group gains an additional energy level, and the valence electrons are found in the outermost energy level.
3. The number of orbitals decreases: This option is incorrect as well. Moving down a group in the Periodic Table increases both the number of energy levels and the number of orbitals. Each successive element in the group adds one energy level, and each energy level contains multiple orbitals.
4. The possible number of bonds formed decreases: This option is correct. As you move down a group in the Periodic Table, the valence shell becomes further away from the nucleus, making it harder for the atoms to form stable bonds. Thus, the possible number of bonds that can be formed decreases.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question is: The possible number of bonds formed decreases.