The lightest element in the periodic table is

Options

A. Lithium
B. Fluorine
C. Hydrogen
D. Helium

Answer

To determine the lightest element in the periodic table, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Understand the Concept of "Lightest"
The term "lightest" in the context of elements refers to the element with the lowest atomic mass.

### Step 2: Identify the Elements and Their Atomic Masses
We will consider a few elements and their corresponding atomic masses:
- **Lithium (Li)**: Atomic number = 3, Atomic mass = 9
- **Fluorine (F)**: Atomic number = 9, Atomic mass = 18
- **Helium (He)**: Atomic number = 2, Atomic mass = 4
- **Hydrogen (H)**: Atomic number = 1, Atomic mass = 1

### Step 3: Compare the Atomic Masses
Now, we will compare the atomic masses of these elements:
- Lithium: 9
- Fluorine: 18
- Helium: 4
- Hydrogen: 1

### Step 4: Identify the Lightest Element
From the comparison, we can see that Hydrogen has the lowest atomic mass of 1, which makes it the lightest element in the periodic table.

### Conclusion
Thus, the lightest element in the periodic table is **Hydrogen (H)**.

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