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Why are transition metals not as reactive as alkali metals and akaline earth metals?
They are less reactive because they have 2 electrons in the outer shell of the atoms and they like to be full and the alkali metals only have 1 electron in the outer shell of the atom, and it is easyer to give away 1 electron than 2 so they are more reactive than other elements. The electronegativity (Pauling values) is lower for the alkali metals.
Are valence electrons held loosely by the atom?
Assuming you are talking about the electrons in their shells (not the displaced ones):It depends on the distance of those electrons from the nucleus. For example electron in the outer shell of potassium (K) is further away form the nucleus than electron in the outer shell of sodium (Na).It means that potassium can lose this electron in outer shell easier than sodium does, and therefore is more reactive than sodium.
Why are alkali metals more reactive than transition metals?
Groups 3-12 do not have individual names. Instead, all of these groups are called transition metals. The atoms of transition metals do not give away their electrons as easily as atoms of the Group 1 and Group 2 metals do. So, transition metals are less reactive than alkali metals and alkaline-earth metals are.
Why is it difficult to determine electron affinities for metals?
Most metals, especially those in the alkali and alkaline groups, want to form cations by giving away rather than forming anions by assuming an electron from another atom. For this reason, it is difficult to measure the electron affinities of metals.
Why are alkali metals found in many common substances but rarely found in pure form?
Alkali Metals are rarely found in pure form, and if they are they are normally stored under oil, because they react with water and water vapor in the air very violently. They explode if placed in water because they have one electron in their outer energy level and they want to give it away so badly. But if they are bonded with other elements, particularly non-metals, they lose that high reactivity.
How many electrons away from a noble gas are the alkali metals?
Alkali metals have one electron more than the noble gases.
Why are alkali metals extremely reactive?
There is only one electron in the outer most electron shell. With the lighter (less massive) alkali metals, there are less electron shells, between the outer most electron and the nucleus. Since the nucleus is positive(Protons) it more strongly holds the outer most electron. However, when going down the Alkali (Group 1) metals there are more electron shells, so the outer most electron is further away from the nucleus, and thereby less strongly held. This is evidenced by Lithium (The least massive) which only slowly effervesces in water. At the bottom of the group Francium ( The most massive) is explosive in water. NB Francium is not used in the open laboratory because it is also radio-active.
Why are transition metals not as reactive as alkali metals and akaline earth metals?
They are less reactive because they have 2 electrons in the outer shell of the atoms and they like to be full and the alkali metals only have 1 electron in the outer shell of the atom, and it is easyer to give away 1 electron than 2 so they are more reactive than other elements. The electronegativity (Pauling values) is lower for the alkali metals.
Are valence electrons held loosely by the atom?
Assuming you are talking about the electrons in their shells (not the displaced ones):It depends on the distance of those electrons from the nucleus. For example electron in the outer shell of potassium (K) is further away form the nucleus than electron in the outer shell of sodium (Na).It means that potassium can lose this electron in outer shell easier than sodium does, and therefore is more reactive than sodium.
Why are alkali metals more reactive than transition metals?
Groups 3-12 do not have individual names. Instead, all of these groups are called transition metals. The atoms of transition metals do not give away their electrons as easily as atoms of the Group 1 and Group 2 metals do. So, transition metals are less reactive than alkali metals and alkaline-earth metals are.
Why is it difficult to determine electron affinities for metals?
Most metals, especially those in the alkali and alkaline groups, want to form cations by giving away rather than forming anions by assuming an electron from another atom. For this reason, it is difficult to measure the electron affinities of metals.
Why are alkali metals found in many common substances but rarely found in pure form?
Alkali Metals are rarely found in pure form, and if they are they are normally stored under oil, because they react with water and water vapor in the air very violently. They explode if placed in water because they have one electron in their outer energy level and they want to give it away so badly. But if they are bonded with other elements, particularly non-metals, they lose that high reactivity.
Is the alkali metal more reactive than an alkaline-earth metal?
Yes, alkali metals are more reactive than alkaline-earth metals. All atoms want to have 8 electrons in their outer shells. Alkali metals have to give one electron away, where as alkaline-earth metals need to give two away which is less energetically favorable.
Does alkali earth metals easily lose their valence electrons in chemical reactions?
Yes. Alkali metals have the lowest ionization energy, meaning it takes very little energy to pull of its first valence electron. The reason for this is because alkali metals have a group configuration of ns1 which means they only need to loose one electon in order to have a full outer shell. That's why these metals are extremely reactive and need to be stored specially so they don't explode when coming into contact with the water vapor in the air.
Why do alkali metals tend to lose 1 valence electron?
Every alkali metal has only one electron in the outermost energy level. They give it away to form monopositive ions which have stable electron configurations ending with ns2 np6 (where n is a counting number between 2 and 7 inclusive).
Do alkaline earth metals form ions with a plus 2 charge?
YEP! remember In science in order for the Alkali metals and Alkaline earth metals to become stable they must give AWAY electrons. The Earth metals have a Plus 2 charge because they give away 2 electrons on there outer shell!
What element would form a ionic bond with fluorine?
Many elements can form an ionic bond with fluorine. Metals in groups one and two (such as alkali metals lithium, sodium, potassium, etc. or alkali earth metals like magnesium or calcium) like to form ionic compounds with fluorine. This is because fluorine has an extra electron it wants to give away, and metals in group one and two want another electron to become stable.
