Question

the periodic table is shown below
when a highly reactive metal, such as magnesium (mg), is mixed with a reactive nonmetal such as sulfur (s), the two elements will most likely combine to form a new substance, magnesium sulfide (mgs).
based on the trends of the periodic table, which other element is likely to combine with magnesium?
a. gold (au)
b. sodium (na)
c. helium (he)
d. text as per image, likely a nonmetal element (e.g., phosphorus or similar)

Explanation:

To determine which element combines with Mg, we analyze each option:

• Option A (Au, gold): Gold is a metal, and Mg is also a metal. Metals generally don't combine with other metals in this way (they form alloys, but the question implies a reaction like Mg + S. So Au is unlikely.
• Option B (Na, sodium): Sodium is a metal, similar to Mg. Metals don't typically react with each other to form compounds like MgS (which is an ionic compound from metal - nonmetal). So Na is out.
• Option C (He, helium): Helium is a noble gas, which is extremely unreactive. It doesn't form compounds easily, so it won't react with Mg.
• Option D (F, fluorine): Fluorine is a nonmetal (from the periodic table, nonmetals are in the right - hand side, and F is a halogen, a highly reactive nonmetal). Mg is a highly reactive metal, and metals react with nonmetals to form ionic compounds (like MgS, where S is a nonmetal). So F, being a reactive nonmetal, is likely to combine with Mg.

Answer:

D. fluorine (F)