Question

What are the two elements that would have similar properties to magnesium?
A) $Ca$ and $Be$
B) $F$ and $Cl$
C) $K$ and $Na$
D) None of these

Answer 1

We can look at the arrangement of elements in the periodic table, thus it will be easy to answer this question. We have to remember that the magnesium belongs to the group $2$ i.e. alkaline earth metals. Since the name classifies, they are metallic in nature.

Complete step by step answer:
Now we can discuss about option A) since $Ca$ and $Be$ belongs to group 2 i.e. same as of $Mg$ thus these two elements will show same properties as that of $Mg$ since they belongs to same group have same properties and have two electrons in their outermost shell. So, option A is correct.
Let see the option B) This option is incorrect since $F$ and $Cl$ belong to the halogen family, they will have different properties than $Mg$. Also the valence electron for this group is 5 which is not the same as that of $Mg$.
Option C) this option is incorrect since $K$ and $Na$ belongs to group 1 i.e. Alkali metals, they have one electron in the outermost shell. Thus these elements will have different properties than $Mg$.
Option D) as, we got a correct option which is option A thus is option is incorrect.

Note: We have to remember that the elements belonging to the same group will have the same properties, they will have the same outermost electron, belong to the same class and also show some same chemical properties too. We have to remember that alkali metals have lower melting points and have low densities. The electronic configuration of the group $II$ element is $n{s^2}$ and which have a tendency to lose their two electrons from the outer shell.