how are the properties of elements determined?

Answer 1

I assume you mean what determines the chemical and physical properties of an element. The simple answer is the number of subatomic particles (electrons, protons, neutrons) in their atoms and the way they are arranged. For instance, sodium and fluorine are very reactive due to the small number of electrons (in the case of sodium) or empty spaces (in the case of fluorine) in their outside or valence shell. Reactivity is a chemical property. Lead as a substance is dense (a small amount of it weighs a lot) mostly because the atom of lead has a large number of neutrons and protons as indicated by its position far down in the periodic table. Density is a physical property. When you get into molecular compounds the properties often depend on the way the atoms are arranged. For instance diamonds are transparent because of the perfectly symmetrical crystal structure that offers little resistance to light waves and diamonds are hard because the carbon atoms are held in a very rigid crystal lattice.

Answer 2

By experiment. If you have a sample of something that you think is an element, the first thing you do is to see if it really is (e.g., by x-ray studies), and then play chemist to see what it combines with (and how much), and what the resulting products are. For example, treat it with hydrochloric acid, and see what happens; most chlorides are soluble, but some aren't.

Answer 3

It's all about the electrons - particularly the number in their outermost ring. That's what makes each element different and determines whether they are stable/unstable.

Answer 4

looking at the periodic table and knowing the trends can help most, but you kinda have to know what your looking for,

example the noble gases dont form compunds and the alkaline earth metals are all super reactive. Check out any intro to inorganic chem text book.

Answer 5

continually flow consisting of your gut feeling. Valence electrons is authentic. The Periodic table is grouped into households (columns) of aspects which have similar chemical homes or reactivity. All aspects interior of a similar column have a similar type of valance electrons.

Answer 6

by the outermost shell of electrons
from student of k12 international academy.

Answer 7

i dont understand either of what you are saying why cant you just put the answer

Answer 8

by observation

Answer 9

their electron configuration