Which of the following elements has the atomic number closest to that of fluorine?

The atomic number of fluorine is 9. Chlorine has an atomic number of 17, which is the closest to that of fluorine compared to the other elements listed. Bromine, with an atomic number of 35, is significantly higher, while sulfur has an atomic number of 16. Helium’s atomic number is only 2, which is much lower than that of fluorine. Chlorine's position on the periodic table, being directly below fluorine in group 17, indicates it has a similar chemical behavior and is the element with the closest atomic number to fluorine. This understanding of the periodic table helps clarify the relationships between different elements based on their atomic numbers.