Alkali metals
The most reactive metals are called alkali metals. This group includes elements like lithium, sodium, and potassium, which readily react with other elements due to their low ionization energy and tendency to lose an electron to achieve a stable electron configuration.
Group A1 of the Periodic Table (Hydrogen, Lithium, Sodium . . . ) is an Alkali Metal and only has one valance electron. If the element were to lose that electron, it forms an ion. Each element violently reacts when combined with water.
A cesium atom has 1 valence electron. It is an alkali metal, and all alkali metals have 1 valence electron. The electron configuration for cesium is (Rn)7s1. The single electron in the 7s sublevel is its valence electron.
The force of attraction by group 1 metals for their valence electrons is weak. This is because group 1 metals have a single valence electron that is loosely held and easily lost to form positive ions.
Sodium has one valence electron. As you move left to right on the periodic table in the columns, the amount of valence electrons increases. It may get a little trickier for transition metals, but that is a separate question.
Alkali metals
Highly reactive metals with one valence electron are known as Alkali metals.
Highly reactive metals with one valence electron are known as Alkali metals.
Highly reactive metals with one valence electron are known as Alkali metals.
alkali metals
Alkali metals, such as sodium and potassium, are characterized by having a single valence electron and very reactive atoms. They readily lose this outer electron to form +1 cations in chemical reactions.
Yes, alkali metals are highly reactive because they have one valence electron that they readily donate to achieve a stable electron configuration. This makes them extremely reactive with water and air, which results in explosive reactions.
Alkali metals are more reactive as they are in group 1 and therefore has only one valence electron. With only one valence electron, its easy for them to achieve inert configuration/ noble gas configuration, which makes them so reactive.
Alkali group 1 metals have one valence electron, which makes them highly reactive. They have low melting and boiling points and are soft metals that can be easily cut with a knife. These metals also tend to form ionic compounds due to their tendency to lose their single valence electron.
Alkaline earth metals have higher melting points and densities compared to alkali metals. They are less reactive and have two valence electrons, while alkali metals have one valence electron and are more reactive.
The alkali metals easily yield the one electron found in their valence shell, to bond with other elements. Since it takes so little energy to remove this electron from an alkali metal (i.e., they have a low ionization energy) these metals are never found in nature in their elemental forms (they are too reactive; i.e., their atoms so easily bond to other atoms).
The alkali earth elements have TWO valence electrons.