According to the arrangement of elements in the periodic table, which of the following elements would be expected to have chemical properties most similar to those of nitrogen, N, whose atomic number is 7?

A)oxygen (O, atomic number 8)
B)phosphorous (P, atomic number 15)
C)chlorine (Cl, atomic number 17)
D)carbon (C, atomic number 6)

Question

According to the arrangement of elements in the periodic table, which of the following elements would be expected to have chemical properties most similar to those of nitrogen, N, whose atomic number is 7?
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A)oxygen (O, atomic number 8) 
B)phosphorous (P, atomic number 15) 
C)chlorine (Cl, atomic number 17) 
D)carbon (C, atomic number 6)

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Nitrogen (N) is in Group 15 of the periodic table, also known as the nitrogen group. The elements in this group have similar electronic configurations, with five electrons in their outermost shells. Phosphorus (P) is also in Group 15, so it would be expected to have chemical properties most similar to those of nitrogen. Oxygen (O) is in Group 16 and has six electrons in its outermost shell, so it would not have similar chemical properties. Chlorine (Cl) is in Group 17 and has seven electrons in its outermost shell, so it would also not have similar chemical properties. Carbon (C) is in Group 14 and has four electrons in its outermost shell, so it would have even less similar chemical properties to nitrogen than oxygen or chlorine.

According to the Arrangement of Elements in the Periodic Table