The elements fluorine (F), chlorine (CI), and iodine
(I) are all in the same column on the periodic table.
Which is the best explanation for this
arrangement?
They are all gases at room
temperature.
They were all discovered in ancient
times.
They have the same number of energy
levels.
They have the same number of valence
electrons.



Answer :

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The best explanation for why fluorine (F), chlorine (Cl), and iodine (I) are all in the same column on the periodic table is that they have the same number of valence electrons. Valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost energy level of an atom, and they play a crucial role in determining an element's chemical properties.

Here's why they are in the same column:
1. Fluorine, chlorine, and iodine all belong to Group 17 (also known as Group 7A or the halogens) of the periodic table.
2. Elements in the same group have the same number of valence electrons. In this case, fluorine, chlorine, and iodine each have 7 valence electrons.
3. The similar number of valence electrons results in these elements exhibiting similar chemical behaviors, such as forming ions with a charge of -1.

Therefore, the key reason these elements are arranged in the same column is due to their shared number of valence electrons. This common characteristic gives them similar chemical properties despite their differences in atomic size and other properties.

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