Table of Contents
Why is sodium is less reactive than potassium?
In alkali metals, on moving down the group, the atomic size increases and the effective nuclear charge decreases. Because of these factors, the outermost electron in potassium can be lost easily as compared to sodium. Hence, potassium is more reactive than sodium.
What is more reactive potassium or sodium?
All the group 1 metals are reactive, but they get more reactive as you go down the group, so potassium is more reactive than sodium, which is more reactive than lithium. This can be explained by looking at the electronic structure of the atoms: In order to react, the metal needs to lose an electron.
Why is potassium more reactive than sodium and lithium?
The outer electron of potassium is even further away from the nucleus so it is even more easily lost from the atom. So potassium is more reactive than either sodium or lithium.
Why sodium and potassium metals are so reactive in nature?
Because they have just one valence electron, group 1 elements are very reactive. As a result, they are found in nature only in combination with other elements. Alkali metals are all solids at room temperature. They are relatively soft and low in density.
Why is potassium most reactive?
Therefore, potassium has an additional shell of electrons and thus 8 more electrons. This extra shell of electrons shields the attractive force exerted on the outer electron by the nucleus. As a result, less energy is required to remove the outer electron of potassium and so it is more reactive.
Why does potassium react with water faster than sodium?
As potassium is larger than sodium, potassium’s valence electron is at a greater distance from the attractive nucleus and is so removed more easily than sodium’s valence electron. As it is removed more easily, it requires less energy, and can be said to be more reactive.
Why is potassium so reactive in water?
Why potassium is more reactive than sodium Igcse?
K has lower ionisation energy than sodium due to bigger atomic size, therefore, it is more reactive.
Which is the most reactive metal and why?
According to reactivity series, sodium is the most reactive metal.
- An element which is a soft and reactive metal is : …
- Reactive metals react with dilute HCl to liberate: …
- Metal A is: …
- A less reactive metal displaces a more reactive metal from its salt solution.
Is potassium or sodium more reactive with water?
Answer: Potassium (K) is more reactive because it is further down in Group 1 than sodium (Na).
Is potassium the most reactive metal?
– Potassium metal has more number of shells compared to sodium and thus it becomes easy to remove one electron from its outermost orbital ( less ionization enthalpy). – So, out of given metals, Potassium is the most reactive metal. Therefore, potassium is the most reactive metal among the given options.
Why sodium is most reactive metal?
Sodium metal has very low ionization energy and therefore readily loses its electron. Sodium reacts vigorously with oxygen and water releasing enormous amounts of energy (highly exothermic reactions) that it catches fire and explodes with popping sounds.
Which element is more reactive than potassium?
Lithium is more reactive than potassium. Get Answer to any question, just click a photo and upload the photo and get the answer completely free, UPLOAD PHOTO AND GET THE ANSWER NOW!
How do you know that potassium is highly reactive?
Potassium is highly reactive with halogens and detonates when it contacts liquid bromine. Violent explosions also have been observed when mixtures of potassium and halogen acids are subject to shock.
How do you know which element is more reactive?
The elements toward the bottom left corner of the periodic table are the metals that are the most active in the sense of being the most reactive. Lithium, sodium, and potassium all react with water, for example.
Why is sodium harder than potassium?
Sodium has larger atomic size because of less force of attraction between the valence electron and the nucleus, hence it is soft. You can also find that Potassium is more softer than Sodium, Rubidium being more softer than Potassium, and this goes on.
Why potassium is more reactive than calcium?
Potassium has only one valence electron. On loosing this electron, it achieves a noble gas configuration. Whereas, calcium has two valence electrons, so it requires more energy for the removal of a valence electron. Due to this potassium is more reactive than calcium.
Why is sodium so reactive with water?
Placing a chunk of sodium metal in contact with water results in a violent, and often explosive, reaction. This is due to the sodium donating an electron to hydrogen ions in the water, which leads to the emission of heat and the creation of hydrogen gas.
Why does sodium react vigorously with water?
Sodium reacts violently with water because it is much more active than hydrogen. Although water is covalent, not ionic, it is helpful sometimes to consider water to be [H+][OH-], since after all hydrogen has a slight excess of positive charge.
Why potassium is explosive?
Potassium reacts violently on contact with powerful oxidizers and water. Do not grind potassium or heat it. Upon contact with water, acids or alcohols, potassium produces an exothermic reaction involving release of flammable hydrogen gas. Oxidized potassium may explode upon handling.