What is the link between reactivity and the number of electron shells?
Table of Contents
- 1 What is the link between reactivity and the number of electron shells?
- 2 What is the relationship between reactivity among elements and the number of valence electrons?
- 3 How does atomic size affect the reactivity of an atom?
- 4 What is the relationship between the number of valence electrons in an atom’s valence electron shell and the position of the element on the periodic table?
What is the link between reactivity and the number of electron shells?
The number of electrons in the outermost shell of a particular atom determines its reactivity, or tendency to form chemical bonds with other atoms.
How does group number relate to reactivity?
The reactivity of Group 1 elements increases as you go down the group because: the atoms get larger as you go down the group. the attraction between the nucleus and outer electron gets weaker as you go down the group – so the electron is more easily lost.
Does more electron shells mean more reactive?
The reactivity of group 1 metals increases as we go down the periodic table because as we go down the group the electrons are further away from the nulceus as the number of shells increase and therefore the attraction the electron feels from the nucleus decreases due to the nucleus being more shielded by the increasing …
What is the relationship between reactivity among elements and the number of valence electrons?
The number of valence electrons in atoms may cause them to be unreactive or highly reactive. For those atoms that are reactive, the number of valence electrons also determines whether they tend to give up or gain electrons in chemical reactions. Metals, which easily give up electrons, can conduct electricity.
What is the link between the charge number on the ions in group 1 and 2 and their group?
Positive and Negative Ions: Cations and Anions
| Family | Element | Ion Name |
|---|---|---|
| IVA | Tin | Tin(II) or stannous |
| Tin(IV) or stannic | ||
| Lead | Lead(II) or plumbous | |
| Lead(IV) or plumbic |
Why does the number of electron shells increase down the group?
Down a group, the number of energy levels (n) increases, and so does the distance between the nucleus and the outermost orbital. The increased distance and the increased shielding weaken the nuclear attraction, and so an atom can’t attract electrons as strongly.
How does atomic size affect the reactivity of an atom?
The smaller the atomic radius, the more influence the nucleus has on reactivity. The nucleus of smaller atoms is more exposed and thus exhibits a stronger pull. Therefore, the smaller the atomic radius, the more reactive the halogen atom, making fluorine the most reactive element in Group 17.
Why elements with more outer shells are more reactive?
If an atom’s outermost shell is full, it is less inclined to shed or gain an electron from another atom, making it very stable. 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.
What is the relationship between reactivity among elements other than noble gases and the number of valence electrons?
Within each group of metals, reactivity increases as you go down the group. The valence electrons are less tightly bound and easier to remove, because they are farther away from the nucleus of the atom. A nonmetal tends to attract additional valence electrons to attain a full valence shell.
What is the relationship between the number of valence electrons in an atom’s valence electron shell and the position of the element on the periodic table?
The number of valence electrons in an atom is reflected by its position in the periodic table of the elements (see the periodic table in the Figure below). Across each row, or period, of the periodic table, the number of valence electrons in groups 1–2 and 13–18 increases by one from one element to the next.