Question detail
What was the primary criterion used by early scientists to arrange elements 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
The periodic table
Question
- A. Chemical reactivity
- B. Atomic weight
- C. Electron configuration
- D. Physical state
Answer
Atomic weight
Explanation
The primary criterion used by early scientists to arrange elements was atomic weight, which was the best available method before the discovery of subatomic particles.
Common mistake
Misunderstanding Element Arrangement
Students often think that early scientists arranged elements by atomic number instead of atomic weight.
Remember that early arrangements were based on atomic weight, and atomic number was established later with the discovery of subatomic particles.
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