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The alkali metals need to lose just one electron in order to obtain a stable electron arrangement, and the halogens need to gain just one electron in order to obtain a stable electron arrangement, so they are both very close to stability and therefore react very readily. Elements which need to either lose or gain a larger number of electrons have a harder time doing so, because the stability of a full outer shell is countered by the instability that results from having too much of a net electric charge. If an element needs to gain more than one electron in order to have a full outer shell, the first electron is relatively easy, but that atom then has a negative charge which repells other electrons event though it still needs more electrons to fill its outer shell.

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Q: Why are the alkali and the halogens very reactive?
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Related questions

What are examples of high reactivity?

Very reactive elements are alkali metals and halogens.


What groups are the very reactive elements from?

there are alkali metals that are the most reactive metals on the periodic table and halogens which are the most reactive nonmetals


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The most reactive groups are alkali metals and halogens.


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The two most reactive groups of elements in the periodic table are the alkali metals and halogens.


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I think alkali is the most reactive one.


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because to be stable they need 8 atoms in outer energy level halogens need one so are highly reactive. alkali need 7 so are highly reactive( not as highly as halogens)


Why alkali metals and the halogens among the most reactive elements on the periodic table?

because to be stable they need 8 atoms in outer energy level halogens need one so are highly reactive. alkali need 7 so are highly reactive( not as highly as halogens)


Which category is the most reactive on the periodic table?

Alkali metals and halogens.


The Family of what is the most reactive group of metals in the periodic table?

The Alkali metals are the most reactive group of metals in the periodic table. Of these Francium is the most reactive metal of all.


Which group of metals do halogens usually bond with offer an explanation?

For example halogens easily react with alkali metals because both are very reactive; compounds are with ionic bonds.


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The most reactive nonmetals are in group 17 (halogens). The most reactive metals are in group 1 (alkali metals).


What are the most reactive families on the periodic table and why are they the most reactive?

The alkali metals Lithium, Sodium, Potassium, Rubidium cesium and Francium is the most reactive group of metals. They are this way because they only need to lose one electron to gain a stable octet which is very favorable energetically. The most reactive group of non-metals is the halogens, Fluorine, Chlorine, Bromine, Iodine and Astatine. These are the exact opposite. They are extremely reactive because they only need to gain one electron to gain a stable octet which is again, highly energetically favorable.