How does the oxidising power of the group 1 metals vary?

The group one metals all have one electron in their outer shell, so are "electron donors". The further down the group one goes, the higher the electron shell containing the lone electron. The result of this is that this electron is held on to less tightly by the nucleus, and therefore the metals at the bottom of the group are more reactive than those at the top of the group.

AK

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

What is a rate of reaction? How can we calculate the rate of reaction?


What affects the boiling point of an alkane and why?


Explain why the boiling point of PH3 is lower than the boiling point of AsH3


Ethanol can be made from the reaction between ethene and water. The reaction is exothermic and occurs at a high temperature. Describe and explain the effect of raising the temperature on the rate of achievement of equilibrium and the equilibrium yield.