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Multiple Choice
Which of the following elements has chemical properties most similar to tellurium?
A
Sb
B
I
C
Se
D
Sn
Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the position of tellurium (Te) in the periodic table. Tellurium is in group 16 (the chalcogens) and period 5.
Recall that elements in the same group (vertical column) of the periodic table have similar chemical properties because they have the same number of valence electrons.
Look at the given options and determine their groups: Sb (antimony) is in group 15, I (iodine) is in group 17, Se (selenium) is in group 16, and Sn (tin) is in group 14.
Since selenium (Se) is in the same group (16) as tellurium, it will have chemical properties most similar to tellurium due to similar valence electron configurations.
Conclude that the element with chemical properties most similar to tellurium is selenium (Se) because elements in the same group share similar chemical behavior.