What causes elements to be more reactive?

An element’s reactivity depends on how its electrons are arranged. Conversely, if the outer shell is occupied by just one solitary electron (ie sodium) this electron can readily be shared with another atom, making it highly reactive.

Where does reactivity increase on the periodic table?

Period – reactivity increases as you go from the left to the right across a period. Group – reactivity decreases as you go down the group.

Why does reactivity depend on atomic radius?

The smaller the atomic radius, the more influence the nucleus has on reactivity. Since the nucleus of an atom contains positively charged protons, it also attracts electrons. Therefore, the smaller the atomic radius, the more reactive the halogen atom, making fluorine the most reactive element in Group 17.

Which element would be more reactive to other elements?

Reactivity of Group 1 Elements Hydrogen is a very reactive gas, and the alkali metals are even more reactive. In fact, they are the most reactive metals and, along with the elements in group 17, are the most reactive of all elements.

What is reactivity on the periodic table?

Reactivity: The reactivity of the elements increases going from left to right on the periodic table. Each element going from left to right tends to be more reactive. The reactivity all increases as you go down the periodic table, for example rubidium is far more reactive than sodium.

Do elements get more reactive as you go down the periodic table?

As we go down the group, the atom gets bigger. The bigger the atom, the further away the last electron. Therefore, the attraction between the nucleus and the last electron gets weaker. This makes it easier for the atom to give up the electron which increases its reactivity.

On which factors chemical and physical properties of elements depends?

Key Points

• The physical properties of elements depend in part on their valence electron configurations.
• The most notable within-group changes in physical properties occur in Groups 13, 14, and 15, where the elements at the top are non-metallic, while the elements at the bottom are metals.

Do elements become less reactive as atomic number increases?

Radius and Reactivity As atomic number increases, so does an atom’s radius. The outermost electron is held less tightly and escapes more readily. Therefore, the alkali metal with the higher number is more chemically reactive.

Does reactivity increase as atomic number?

Reactivity increases with atomic number in a group as well as in a period.

Why are some elements more reactive than others?

Atoms with high reactivity have outer shells that are imbalanced because of a low number of electrons (one or two) or a higher but not full number (six or seven). The most highly reactive elements are halogens, which are looking to gain one more electron, and alkali metals, which are looking to lose the single electron in their outer shells.

What is reactive reactivity?

Reactivity is a measure of how easily an element will combine with other elements to form compounds. Some elements are unreactive and need energy putting in others will react spontaneously and easily. The size of the nucleus determines the chemical reactivity of the element due to its ability to hold onto electrons and attract electrons.

What determines an atom’s reactivity?

What Determines an Atom’s Reactivity? An atom’s reactivity is determined by the number of electrons in its outermost shell.

How does the size of the nucleus affect the reactivity?

The size of the nucleus determines the chemical reactivity of the element due to its ability to hold onto electrons and attract electrons. Patterns of reactivity vary depending on the size of the nucleus, the number of electrons and the number of shells. Non metals prefer to attract electrons and metals prefer to lose electrons in general.