Question detail
What determines the position of an element in the Periodic Table?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
Periodicity
Question
- A. The number of neutrons in the nucleus
- B. The atomic mass of the element
- C. The proton number of the element
- D. The electron configuration of the element
Answer
The proton number of the element
Explanation
The position of an element in the Periodic Table is determined by its proton number, which is the number of protons in the nucleus. This number defines the element's identity and its placement in the table.
Common mistake
Misunderstanding Proton Number
Students often confuse atomic number with mass number when explaining how proton number determines periodic table position.
Remember that the proton number (atomic number) is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom and directly determines the element's position in the periodic table. For example, for carbon (C), the atomic number is 6, meaning it has 6 protons, placing it in group 14 and period 2.
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