Question

what property, determined by the periodic table location, suggests that arsenic and phosphorus will combine with other atoms in a similar way and form similar numbers of bonds?
a. their ability to dissolve easily in water.
b. their total density.
c. the number of valence electrons they possess.
d. their melting point.

Explanation:

Valence electrons are the outermost electrons of an atom and are involved in chemical bonding. Elements in the same group of the periodic table have the same number of valence electrons. Phosphorus (P) and arsenic (As) are in group 15 of the periodic table and have 5 valence electrons each. The number of valence electrons determines how an atom will combine with other atoms (bonding behavior). For example, both P and As can form three covalent bonds (as in \(PH_3\) and \(AsH_3\)) or five covalent bonds (as in \(PCl_5\) and \(AsCl_5\)). Solubility in water (A), density (B), and melting point (D) are physical properties and do not directly relate to an element's bonding behavior in the way described in the question.

Answer:

C. The number of valence electrons they possess.