Why Is Sodium More Reactive Than Lithium In Terms Of Electronic Structure?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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As you have said, Lithium is smaller than Sodium, the valence electron on sodium is further away from the positive nucleus and therefore it has a weaker electrostatic attraction and is more easily lost in a chemical reaction , making it more reactive.

Why is sodium is more reactive than lithium?

Sodium is more reactive than lithium because sodium is larger in size . Outermost electrons are less tightly held in sodium than in lithium. As a result sodium loses its outermost electron more easily than lithium. Hence it is more reactive than lithium.

What’s more reactive sodium or lithium?

Element Reaction with water Sodium Very quickly Lithium Quickly Calcium More slowly

Why is sodium more reactive?

Sodium on the opposite side of the table has the opposite properties. Its single outer electron makes the metal highly reactive and ready to combine with others at the first opportunity – such as the moment the metal hits water.

Why do lithium and sodium being group IA elements have different reactivity?

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Why lithium is least reactive with water?

All the alkali metals readily react with water to form hydroxides with the release of the hydrogen gas but lithium reacts slowly with water because it has higher activation energy and slower rate of reaction and forms colorless solution of lithium hydroxide along with the release of hydrogen gas.

What is the least reactive element?

Noble gases are the least reactive of all known elements. That’s because with eight valence electrons, their outer energy levels are full. The only exception is helium, which has just two electrons.

Is potassium more reactive than sodium?

All the group 1 metals are reactive, but they get more reactive as you go down the group, so potassium is more reactive than sodium , which is more reactive than lithium. This can be explained by looking at the electronic structure of the atoms: In order to react, the metal needs to lose an electron.

Is CS more reactive than K?

Potassium is more reactive than Sodium and Lithium because Potassium is bigger than them. ... So the ionization energy in K is less than that in Na or in Li. So Potassium is more reactive than many other metals. However, Rubidium Rb and Cesium Cs are more reactive than Potassium .

Is it true that sodium is more reactive than magnesium?

Sodium is a more electropositive metal which means that it “ hates” electrons more than magnesium therefore it needs less energy to chuck electrons than magnesium does.

Is sodium highly reactive with water?

Generally, elemental sodium is more reactive than lithium , and it reacts with water to form a strong base, sodium hydroxide (NaOH).

Is sodium highly reactive with oxygen?

Sodium is a very reactive metal , it tends to react with oxygen to form sodium oxide but this is an unstable compound and soon reacts with hydrogen to form sodium hydroxide. is a sodium oxide formed by the reaction between sodium metal and oxygen of the air at room temperature. ... Usually, it is the oxide of non-metals.

Is sodium or oxygen more reactive?

Reactivity of Group 1 and 2 elements increases as you go down the periodic table. So sodium is more reactive than lithium . Sodium will react with oxygen forming Na2O (sodium oxide).

Why does group 7 get less reactive?

Reactivity decreases down the group.

This is because group 7 elements react by gaining an electron . As you move down the group, the amount of electron shielding increases, meaning that the electron is less attracted to the nucleus.

Why do group 2 elements get more reactive?

Reactivity of Group II elements increases down the group .

This can be explained by the increase in ease at losing two outer electrons as we descend the group. The loss of electrons becomes easier due to the decreasing ionisation energy required.

What is the most reactive element in group 7?

Fluorine is the most reactive element of all in Group 7. You can see the trend in reactivity if you react the halogens with iron wool.

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.