The phrase similar electron configurations in reference to different elements describes a similar
A) number of electrons in the outermost shell.
B) missing number of electrons in the outermost shell.
C) Either of the first two responses may be valid.
D) Neither of the first two responses is valid.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Similar electron configurations, especially in the context of elements within the same group of the periodic table, imply that these elements have a similar number of electrons in their outermost shell (valence electrons). This similarity can manifest as either having the same number of electrons in the outermost shell or having the same number of missing electrons to complete the shell, depending on how one views the electron configuration relative to the nearest noble gas configuration.

The Phrase Similar Electron Configurations in Reference to Different Elements