Which of the following statements applies to all states of matter? A. Matter takes the shape of its container. B, Matter is made up of particles that are stationary. C, Matter consists of tightly packed particles. D. Matter is made up of particles called atoms.

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.

"the periodic table is arranged in order of atomic number."