Which of the following statements accurately describes a trend found in the periodic table?

• A. Atomic radius generally increases from left to right across a period.
• B. Electronegativity generally decreases from top to bottom within a group.
• C. Metallic character increases from right to left across a period.
• D. Ionization energy generally increases from left to right across a period.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that the periodic table is arranged in periods (rows) and groups (columns), and various properties show predictable trends across these dimensions.
2. Recall that atomic radius generally decreases from left to right across a period because the number of protons increases, pulling electrons closer to the nucleus, thus reducing size.
3. Recognize that electronegativity generally increases from bottom to top within a group, meaning it decreases from top to bottom, because atoms lower in a group have more electron shells, reducing the nucleus's pull on bonding electrons.
4. Know that metallic character increases from right to left across a period since elements on the left tend to lose electrons easily (metals), while those on the right tend to gain electrons (nonmetals).
5. Remember that ionization energy generally increases from left to right across a period because atoms hold their electrons more tightly as nuclear charge increases, making it harder to remove an electron.