Alberta Boilers Safety Association (ABSA) Practice Test

The periodic table reflects the similar chemical properties of which of the following?

1. Arranges elements in equal numbers of columns and rows

2. Arranges elements in descending order of atomic number

3. Has 16 distinct groups

4. Some elements

The correct answer is: Some elements

The periodic table is designed to organize elements based on their atomic structure and specific chemical properties. Elements that share similar chemical properties are placed in vertical columns, known as groups or families. Each of these groups contains elements that exhibit similar behaviors in chemical reactions, such as their valence electron configurations and reactivity. For example, alkali metals, which are found in the first column of the periodic table, share similar characteristics in terms of their highly reactive nature and tendency to lose one electron when forming compounds. This structural arrangement allows scientists and chemists to predict the properties of elements even if they are not familiar with every individual element. The other options do not accurately reflect the underlying principles of how the periodic table illustrates the relationship among elements. The arrangement in equal numbers of columns and rows is not a defining principle of chemical properties, and while elements are generally arranged in ascending order of atomic number, this alone does not account for the properties shared by groups. Additionally, there are not 16 distinct groups; for example, there are 18 groups in the standard layout of the periodic table recognized in modern chemistry.