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 the trend in atomic radius of the elements across Period 3 and why does this occur?


Describe how a buffer solution based on hydrochloric acid can act as a buffer. (5)


4.00 g metal carbonate, MCO3 reacts with acid to liberate a gas that occupies 0.5878 dm3 at 25˚C and 2.0 x 105 Pa. Identify the group 2 metal, M. Info: R = 8.314 J K-1 mol-1


Pure water has a boiling point of 100 °C and a freezing point of 0 °C. What is the boiling point and freezing point of a sample of aqueous sodium chloride?