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Multiple Choice
Which radioactive element has the lowest atomic number (Z) among the choices below?
A
Polonium (Po),
B
Technetium (Tc),
C
Uranium (U),
D
Radon (Rn),
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Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the atomic number (Z) of each element given in the problem. The atomic number represents the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom and determines the element's identity.
List the elements with their atomic numbers: Polonium (Po) has Z = 84, Technetium (Tc) has Z = 43, Uranium (U) has Z = 92, and Radon (Rn) has Z = 86.
Compare the atomic numbers of all the elements to find the smallest value, since the question asks for the radioactive element with the lowest atomic number.
Recall that all the elements listed are radioactive, so the key is to focus solely on the atomic number to determine which one is the lowest.
Conclude that the element with the lowest atomic number among the choices is the one with the smallest Z value.