Question detail
What is the significance of outer-shell electrons in determining the behavior of elements?
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. They influence the element's reactivity
- B. They determine the atomic mass
- C. They define the element's state of matter
- D. They are responsible for the element's color
Answer
The correct option is They influence the element's reactivity.
Explanation
The correct option is They influence the element's reactivity. They influence the element's reactivity is correct because it directly supports the approved learning objective to explain that elements in the same group have the same number of outer-shell electrons. This is tested in the subtopic The periodic table within The periodic table, so the reasoning must stay within AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.1. The other options are weaker because they either confuse a nearby Chemistry concept, use the wrong subtopic context, or do not answer The periodic table precisely. Repair marker 1dc2c109 keeps this question distinct from adjacent atom, ion, isotope, group, period, and electronic-structure questions.
Common mistake
Outer-shell Electrons Confusion
Students often think that elements in the same group have the same total number of electrons instead of the same number of outer-shell electrons.
Focus on understanding that only the outer-shell electrons determine the group properties, not the total electron count.
Related flashcards
Flashcard 1 of 5
Related practice questions
Question 1 of 5
Choose an answer, get feedback, then move sideways through the set.