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Well, either a high amount or a low amount. Take the alkali metals for example. They all have just one valence electron and they need to lose it to fulfill the octet rule. That is what makes them so reactive; they will combine with any element in order to lose that one electron. They all have a low ionization energy, meaning it takes a relatively small amount of energy to knock off that lone electron, whereas other elements have to lose more electrons.

This also applies to elements with a lot of valence shell electrons, such as fluorine which only needs one more electron to fulfill the octet rule. This is another element that will react with almost anything because it doesn't take much for it to "get what it wants".

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Q: Why is an element with only one electron in its outer shell very reactive?
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Related questions

Are atoms with eight electrons in the outer shell not reactive at all?

stable and chemically nonreactive, or inert.


If an element is chemically active what is the state of its outer electron shell?

The key to "happiness" for an atom is a full outer electron shell. (The outer electron shell is called the valence shell.) There are two conditions that cause a shell not to be full. Either it has only an electron or two (or three) in the outer electron shell or it's short an electron or two in that outer shell. The direct answer to the question is that if an element is chemically active, its outer electron shell is incomplete or is not full.


An electron configuration that is not chemically reactive?

Where there are 8 electrons in the outer shell so a full shell. Elements are reactive when they need to lose or gain an electron. The noble gases are unreactive as they have a full outer shell.


Why is rubidium reactive?

because it only has one electron on its outer shell


What are the Every element in group one has one electron in its outer shell Every element in group two has two electrons in its outer shell?

Both statements are true:Every element in group I has one electron in its outer shell andEvery element in group II has two electrons in its outer shell


What is the element in the first group that are reactive highly and has on electron shell?

metals


Is a chlorine atom stable even if it has seven atoms in the outer third shell?

No. Chlorine's electron configuration is unstable. As a result, chlorine is a highly reactive element.


When an electron moves from the outer shell of one element to the outer shell of another element what kind of bond has been created?

This is an ionic bond.


What groups is reactive and gain one electron to have a full outer shell?

group 7


What letter represents an element with one electron in its outer shell?

H


Why are the alkali metals and the halogens among the reactive elements an the periodic table?

alkali metals have one valence electron and halogens have 7. since elements always want to have a full outer shell, these two types of elements react easily with each other to form a full outer shell of 8 electrons.


What is the characteristics about the outer electron shells of halogens?

Each halogen element has an outer shell that lacks one electron of being full.