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Oxygen is reactive because it needs to gain two more electrons to fill its outermost shell while neon's outermost shell is completely full of electrons.
In more technical terms, neon has an octet of electrons whcih makes it inert. Neon forms no known compounds. Oxygen has 6 valence electrons and reacts to "achieve" the octet. This can be by either forming ionic bonds where it gains two electrons to form the oxide ion, O2- or covalently where it shares electrons, as in water H2O where oxygen has shares two electrons with each hydrogen.
Betty Tromp
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoOxygen is reactive because it needs to gain two more electrons to fill its outermost shell while neon's outermost shell is completely full of electrons.
In more technical terms, neon has an octet of electrons whcih makes it inert. Neon forms no known compounds. Oxygen has 6 valence electrons and reacts to "achieve" the octet. This can be by either forming ionic bonds where it gains two electrons to form the oxide ion, O2- or covalently where it shares electrons, as in water H2O where oxygen has shares two electrons with each hydrogen.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoThis has to do with the number of valence electrons. Bonding occurs when an atom has "free" electrons to use for pairings neon is a noble gas which has 0 valence electrons available for bonding whereas oxygen has 6 so it is likely to pair with other atoms to fill its valence shell to 8.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoIt all has to do with the amount of valence electrons in the atom. In oxygen, there are 6 valence electrons. Because the shell is not full, it is essentially 'looking' for 2 more electrons to fill the shell. This means that it can react with other atoms to create the oxygen ion. Neon, on the other hand, is a noble gas that has a full outer shell. It does not need another electron to fill it up.
Wiki User
∙ 16y agoOxygen has 6 valence electrons but it needs 8 to be full, so it will react to fill it Neon has 8 valence electrons and it will not react because it dosent need to fill any orbitals
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Why does nitrogen burn magnesium?
While nitrogen is usually fairly inert, magnesium is so reactive that even nitrogen can react with it.
Halons contain halogens which are highly reactive with oxygen?
Up until "with oxygen" you were doing so well, though it should be emphasized that while halogens are quite reactive generally, halons are pretty inert. Halons which reach the upper atmosphere could break down under ultraviolet light, releasing halogen radicals, for which "highly reactive" is far too mild a term. However, they don't really do much with diatomic oxygen (though they do catalyze the decomposition of ozone into diatomic oxygen).
What are the Fairly reactive metals found as ores?
That is not a very precise question. I will assume first, that you mean metallic elements, since 'metals' would include brass, bronze, pewter, and steel! The other thing that would be needed are sharp dividing lines between "very reactive" and "fairly reactive", and between metallic and semi-metallic elements. And finally, does the question mean [b]always[/b] found as ores? Copper [b]can[/b] be found as the metal in nature, but it is now very rare, and copper ores are the usual source of copper metal. Gold is nearly always found as the metal, but there is a rare gold telluride ore. Have a modern (IUPAC) periodic table in front of you for the rest of this answer. Group 1 contains only very reactive metals. Be from group 2 is arguably only fairly reactive; the other elements in this group are very reactive. Group 3, including all of the lanthanide and actinide elements, would count as very reactive, as would Ti from group 4. Zr and Hf are borderline between fairly and very reactive. Groups 5 to 12 would all count as fairly reactive metals, but Os, Ir, Pt, Au are usually found as metals rather than ores, while Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Hg, and Cu are sometimes found as metals. From group 13 Al and Tl count as very reactive, Ga and In as very/fairly borderline, while B is not a metal. In groups 14, 15, and 16, only Sn, Pb, Bi, and Po could be counted as metals, and they would only be fairly reactive. There are no metals in groups 17 and 18.
What is the oxidation number for each element in the compound MgO?
For Mg the oxidation no is +2 while it is -2 for oxygen.
What is the relationship between an element's number of valence electrons and its reactivity?
When we say valence electron we mean the number of electron left it the outermost shell of element, valence electron can be positive of negetive. If an element need much electrons to be octet, that means that the element is not reactive than the one who will give out electrons, the the one who can give electrons much are less reactive than the one who can give a litle and the reaction will be normal as it is soppused to be, Eg lithium and berylium. Lithium is more reactive than berylium because lithuin has 1valence electron while berylium has 2....reactivity goes with the action of valence electron in an element
What is more reactive oxygen or selenium?
Oxygen. Oxygen is a gas making it react faster, while sulfur is a solid.
Why does nitrogen burn magnesium?
While nitrogen is usually fairly inert, magnesium is so reactive that even nitrogen can react with it.
Which is more reactive - helium or hydrogen?
I'm not sure of the exacts, but I'm fairly sure that oxygen is more reactive than hydrogen. For example, when testing with a smoldering wood splint, in the presence of oxygen gas the flame is reignited, while in the presence of hydrogen gas the splint simply glows. Again, not sure of the exacts myself, but it may have something to do with the fact that oxygen is diatomic and has a double bond with itself, leaving each oxygen atom with two unbonded pairs of valence electrons, making it more reactive. Hydrogen is also diatomic, and that means that each hydrogen atom is used in the single covalent bond, leaving it with no unbonded valence electrons, making it presumably less reactive than oxygen.
Why is helium gas safer than hydrogen gas?
Because hydrogen is reactive and combines with oxygen, while helium is inert.
Why boron exist in BCl3 form while Al can form Al2O6?
Boron exists in BCl3 form while Al can form Al206 because Al or aluminum is highly reactive. Aluminum has the property of being highly reactive with oxygen. This is why it forms Al206.
Is oxygen gas an element?
elements are made up of only one thing, while compounds are made up of a mixture of two elements, but and element is only one 'pure substance' like oxygen.
Halons contain halogens which are highly reactive with oxygen?
Up until "with oxygen" you were doing so well, though it should be emphasized that while halogens are quite reactive generally, halons are pretty inert. Halons which reach the upper atmosphere could break down under ultraviolet light, releasing halogen radicals, for which "highly reactive" is far too mild a term. However, they don't really do much with diatomic oxygen (though they do catalyze the decomposition of ozone into diatomic oxygen).
What are the Fairly reactive metals found as ores?
That is not a very precise question. I will assume first, that you mean metallic elements, since 'metals' would include brass, bronze, pewter, and steel! The other thing that would be needed are sharp dividing lines between "very reactive" and "fairly reactive", and between metallic and semi-metallic elements. And finally, does the question mean [b]always[/b] found as ores? Copper [b]can[/b] be found as the metal in nature, but it is now very rare, and copper ores are the usual source of copper metal. Gold is nearly always found as the metal, but there is a rare gold telluride ore. Have a modern (IUPAC) periodic table in front of you for the rest of this answer. Group 1 contains only very reactive metals. Be from group 2 is arguably only fairly reactive; the other elements in this group are very reactive. Group 3, including all of the lanthanide and actinide elements, would count as very reactive, as would Ti from group 4. Zr and Hf are borderline between fairly and very reactive. Groups 5 to 12 would all count as fairly reactive metals, but Os, Ir, Pt, Au are usually found as metals rather than ores, while Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Hg, and Cu are sometimes found as metals. From group 13 Al and Tl count as very reactive, Ga and In as very/fairly borderline, while B is not a metal. In groups 14, 15, and 16, only Sn, Pb, Bi, and Po could be counted as metals, and they would only be fairly reactive. There are no metals in groups 17 and 18.
Is potassium more reactive than argon?
Yes you are correct, potassium being an alkali metal is definitely more reactive than argon which is a noble gas (group 18 element). Potassium reacts violently with just water while argon is very inert and stable, which is why it remains in the atmosphere as a monatomic element.
Which of the main four gases of the atmosphere are most reactive?
Among the main four gases of the atmosphere (nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and carbon dioxide), oxygen is the most reactive. It readily reacts with other substances, making it essential for respiration and combustion. Nitrogen is relatively unreactive, while argon and carbon dioxide have even lower reactivity.
Which is more reactive fluorine or barium and why?
Fluorine would be the more reactive element because it needs to gain one electron. While Barium needs to gain two electrons. Thus it is easier to gain one than to lose two.
What is the oxidation number for each element in the compound MgO?
For Mg the oxidation no is +2 while it is -2 for oxygen.
