Exploring the Periodic Table: Magnesium, Potassium, and More!

Part 1:

Name two elements that have the same properties as magnesium (Mg).

Part 2:

Determine the number of protons, electrons, and neutrons present in an atom of potassium (K). Explain how you determined your answer using complete sentences.

Part 1:

Calcium and Beryllium are similar to Magnesium because all three elements belong to the same group and have 2 valence electrons in their outer shell.

Part 2:

Potassium has 19 protons and - since the number of protons is the same as the number of electrons- also 19 electrons. To find out the number of neutrons you have to look at the atomic mass or weight of the element.

To further elaborate, elements within the same group in the periodic table tend to exhibit similar properties due to having the same number of valence electrons. In this case, Magnesium, Calcium, and Beryllium are all part of Group 2, also known as the alkaline earth metals, which explains why they share similar characteristics.

As for determining the number of protons, electrons, and neutrons in an atom of Potassium, it's important to note that the number of protons is equal to the atomic number of the element, which is 19 in the case of Potassium. Since atoms are electrically neutral, the number of protons (positively charged particles) is balanced by an equal number of electrons (negatively charged particles). Therefore, Potassium also has 19 electrons.

To find the number of neutrons, you can subtract the atomic number from the atomic mass of Potassium. Given that the atomic mass of Potassium is approximately 39.098, the number of neutrons can be calculated as follows:

Therefore, an atom of Potassium contains 19 protons, 19 electrons, and approximately 20 neutrons. This balanced composition contributes to the stability and overall characteristics of the element.