Which statement best describes the positions of the two elements in the periodic table?
a) the two elements are in the same period, with element r the first element in the period and element q the last element.
b) the two elements are side by side in the same period, with element q to the left of element r.
c) the two elements are in the same group, with element r just above element q.
d) the two elements are in the same group, with element q at the top of the group and element r at the bottom.

B

Explanation:

C) The two elements are in the same group, with Element R just above Element Q.

Explanation:

The picture below is the diagram description for elements R and Q. From the picture above one will notice that element R has a proton number of 12 in it nucleus and element Q has 20 proton number in it nucleus. These  means the element R and Q have atomic numbers of 12 and 20 respectively.

Using the atomic number of an element, one can draw the electronic configuration of each element and invariably determine the group they belong.

The first element R has an atomic number of 12 and the electronic configuration can be represented as follows: 2 8 2. The outer electron or valency electron determine the group the element belong . From this configuration the element  R belong to group 2.

The element Q has an atomic number of 20 and the electronic configuration can be represented as : 2 8 8 2. The valency electron is 2 and it belong to group 2.

From the electronic configuration  we can conclude that both element R and Q belong to the same group. They belong to group 2 and since the atomic number of R comes before atomic number of Q , the elements R will definitely be above element Q in the group.  

the answer to this question is 3.