How does the number of valence electrons change as one moves from top to bottom down any group of the periodic table? a The relationship cannot be predicted b increases by 1 C stays the same d decreases by 1

## Step 1<br />The problem is asking about the trend of valence electrons as one moves from top to bottom down any group of the periodic table. Valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell of an atom and are involved in forming bonds with other atoms.<br /><br />## Step 2<br />In the periodic table, a group refers to the vertical columns. As we move down a group, the number of energy levels increases. Each energy level can hold a certain number of electrons. The first energy level can hold 2 electrons, the second can hold 8, and so on.<br /><br />## Step 3<br />However, the number of valence electrons in each element of a group remains the same. This is because the number of electrons in the outermost shell (the valence shell) does not change as we move down a group.<br /><br />## Step 4<br />For example, all elements in Group 1 (alkali metals) have one valence electron, all elements in Group 2 (alkaline earth metals) have two valence electrons, and so on. This pattern continues down the group, with each element having the same number of valence electrons as the element at the top of the group.