answersLogoWhite

0

Metals have a few electrons fairly loosely bound in their outer "shells", while halogens have nearly-complete outer electron "shells". The most stable configuration for an atom is to have completely-filled shells, so it's easy for metals to lose an electron or two and get down to the next "completely filled" shell, while halogens pick up extra electrons to get to the next filled shell.

User Avatar

Wiki User

10y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Chemistry
Related Questions

Why Oxygen is react more slowly than halogens?

Oxygen does not react more slowly than all of the halogens, just some of them. Plus, the rate of a reaction depends on its nature, not just whether oxygen or a halogen reacts. when the halogens do react faster, this is because they only need one electron to have a stable configuration, whereas oxygen needs two.


Why do elements in th alkali metals group often form iconic bonds with the halogen group?

Alkali metals have one electron in their valency shell whereas halogens have seven. By losing al electron to a halogen, both ions get a full set of electrons in their valency shell.


What do halogens and noble gases have very different chemical properties?

Halogens are highly reactive due to their tendency to gain an electron to achieve a stable electron configuration, while noble gases are already stable and do not readily react with other elements. Halogens are typically electronegative, whereas noble gases have very low electronegativity. This difference in reactivity and electron affinity leads to halogens forming compounds easily, while noble gases tend to exist as isolated atoms.


Why is sodium a metal whereas carbon a non metal?

Sodium is a metal because it has one electron in its outer shell, making it highly reactive and likely to lose that electron to achieve a stable electron configuration. Carbon is a nonmetal because it has four electrons in its outer shell, making it more stable by either gaining, losing, or sharing electrons to achieve a full outer shell.


What substance has electrons but no protons?

an electron smallest atom is hydrogen...1 proton and 1 electron


How many valence electrons do atoms in period 1 have?

Hydrogen has 1 valence electron, whereas helium has 2 valence electrons.


Is Halogen a metals?

no halogens are not metals as they are on the left side of the Periodic Table which appears to be the side of non metals they have tendency to gain electron where as metals have tendency to donate or give electron they form covalent bonds whereas metals form ionic bonds these are few differences hope you find more :) Too bad halogens are on the RIGHT side, which is where nonmetals are. Left side is metals. Ding dong. ^^GREAT ANSWER (FROM ANOTHER PERSON) :)


What is different in number of shells in magnesium and sulphur?

There are no difference in the number of shells in magnesium and sulphur. Both elements contain 3 shells. However, the total number of electrons in the shells are different. Magnesium has 12 electrons in its shells whereas sulphur has 16 electrons in its shell. In addition, the electrons in the valence shell (outermost shell) are also different. Magnesium has 2 electrons in its valence shell whereas sulphur has 6 electrons in its valence shell.


What does it mean to say some elements are reactive and form ions easily whereas others do not?

Elements form ions by either gaining or losing valence electrons. The elements that lose electron(s) and gain electron(s) acquire a positive charge and negative charge respectively. The elements that lose and gain the least electrons require less ionization energy, and are more reactive than elements that need to lose or gain more electrons. For instance, elements in group 1 of the Periodic Table need to lose one electron, and are more reactive than elements in group 2 that need to lose 2 electrons.


Is true or false electron and neutron have opposite charge?

False, electrons are negatively charged whereas neutrons have no charge. An electron is of opposite charge to a proton which has a positive charge.


What 2 way are ions form from atoms?

Ions can be formed from atoms through the gain or loss of electrons. When an atom gains electrons, it becomes negatively charged and forms an anion, whereas when it loses electrons, it becomes positively charged and forms a cation.


Differences between alkil metals and halogens?

The elements of the 1st GROUP of the periodic table are called alkali metals. The elements of the 17th GROUP of the periodic table are called halogens. Alkali metals are soft metals whereas halogens are non-metals.