excluding the noble gas group, how does the n...

# Brief Explanations: Elements tend to gain, lose, or share electrons to achieve a stable electron - configuration. Elements with intermediate numbers of valence electrons (neither close to 0 nor 8) have a relatively stable state and are less likely to react to change their electron - configuration compared to elements with very few or many valence electrons. For example, noble gases have 8 valence electrons (except helium with 2) and are very stable and unreactive. Metals with few valence electrons are highly reactive as they lose electrons easily, while non - metals with many valence electrons gain electrons easily. # Answer: D. Elements with intermediate numbers of valence electrons are the least reactive.