A student compares the boiling point of substances having different intermolecular forces. Which scientific problem is the student most likely investigating? A. is boiling point affected by the strength of particle attraction?
B. Is boiling point correlated to melting point? C. is boiling point affected by the mass of the sample?
D. Is boiling point the temperature at which a substance changes its state?

the old alchemists made significant contributions to science even though there starting premises were off a bit. their conclusions after failure would steer them into better directions for investigation. science is no more than close observation and the initial mistakes result in rethinking and retrying experiments.

since the atomic number is the number of protons in the nucleus, as we move to the left on the periodic table, the electrostatic pull between the nucleus and the valence electron shell decreases. as we move down a group (vertical column), the valence shell energy level gets further and further from the nucleus.