In the periodic table, which of the following elements is expected to behave most like magnesium in its chemical properties?

Introduction / Context:
Elements that lie in the same group of the periodic table often have similar chemical properties because they have the same number of valence electrons. Magnesium is an alkaline earth metal in group 2, and understanding which other elements share its behavior is important for predicting reactions and bonding patterns. This question asks you to identify the element that behaves most like magnesium among the given options.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Reference element: magnesium (Mg), a group 2 metal.
• Options: silicon (Si), strontium (Sr), sulfur (S), and tin (Sn).
• We assume standard periodic table positions and typical chemical behavior.

Concept / Approach:
Magnesium is located in group 2 of the periodic table, which contains the alkaline earth metals. Elements within the same group have two valence electrons and tend to form similar ions, such as M2 plus. Strontium is also in group 2, whereas silicon is in group 14, sulfur is in group 16, and tin is in group 14. Therefore, the element that behaves most like magnesium in terms of valence and common ionic charges is the one that occupies the same group, namely strontium.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Locate magnesium on the periodic table and note that it is in group 2. Step 2: Check each option and determine its group: silicon is group 14, strontium is group 2, sulfur is group 16, and tin is group 14. Step 3: Recall that elements in the same group have the same number of valence electrons and similar chemical behavior. Step 4: Conclude that strontium, as a group 2 metal, will show similar reactivity to magnesium, such as forming Sr2 plus ions. Step 5: Choose strontium as the element that behaves most like magnesium.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by comparing reactions. Magnesium reacts with water and acids to produce hydrogen gas and forms ionic compounds with halides, such as MgCl2. Strontium shows very similar reaction patterns and also forms SrCl2 and other analogous salts. In contrast, silicon and tin, which are main group metals and nonmetals in group 14, form different types of covalent and metallic compounds. Sulfur, a nonmetal in group 16, behaves very differently. This comparison confirms that strontium is the best match to magnesium.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, silicon, is a metalloid and forms mainly covalent network structures, not typical alkaline earth type salts. Option C, sulfur, is a nonmetal that forms sulfides and oxides, quite different in behavior from group 2 metals. Option D, tin, is a post transition metal in group 14 and forms Sn2 plus and Sn4 plus ions with different chemistry than magnesium. None of these options share the same group with magnesium, so they cannot be the most similar in chemical properties.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes focus only on metallic character and may think that any metal could behave like magnesium. However, the most reliable guide to similar behavior is the group number, which indicates valence electron count. Another pitfall is confusing period trends with group trends and assuming that elements in the same period will behave similarly. To avoid these mistakes, always check which elements share the same group as the reference element when comparing chemical properties.

Final Answer:
The element that behaves most like magnesium in its chemical properties is strontium.