Which of the following best describes how elements on the periodic table are organized by their properties?

• A. Elements are grouped based on their physical state at room temperature, with solids, liquids, and gases placed in separate sections.
• B. Elements are organized by their atomic mass, with the heaviest elements placed at the top of the table.
• C. Elements are arranged alphabetically by their chemical symbols, with metals and nonmetals alternating in each row.
• D. Elements are arranged in order of increasing atomic number, with similar chemical properties grouped in columns called groups or families.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that the periodic table is a systematic arrangement of elements based on their atomic structure and properties.
2. Recognize that the primary organizing principle of the periodic table is the atomic number, which is the number of protons in an element's nucleus.
3. Know that elements are arranged in order of increasing atomic number from left to right and top to bottom.
4. Identify that elements with similar chemical properties are grouped together in vertical columns called groups or families.
5. Note that while physical state and atomic mass can vary, the periodic table's organization is fundamentally based on atomic number and recurring chemical properties.