Question

Of the following metals, which is the LEAST reactive? A. K B. Ca C. Na D. Mg

Answer 1

The Answer Should Be D.Mg

Answer 2

Answer: D. Mg

Explanation:

Chemical reactivity is defined as the tendency of an element to loose of gain electrons.

Metals are the elements which lose electrons and hence, their chemical reactivity will be the tendency to lose electrons.

Their chemical reactivity increases as we move top to bottom in a group because the valence shell come gets far away from the nucleus. Thus, the loss of electron from the valence shell becomes easier due to lesser attraction between nucleus and valence electron.

Their chemical reactivity decreases as we move from left to right in a period .As, the electrons get added up in the same shell, the electron in the outermost orbital gets near to the nucleus. And hence, the electron will be difficult to lose.Thus, the chemical reactivity of metals decreases.

For the given options:

Potassium(K) belongs to Group 1 and period 4 of the periodic table.

Calcium (Ca) belongs to Group 2 and period 4 of the periodic table.

Sodium (Na)belongs to Group 1 and Period 3 of the periodic table.

Magnesium (Mg) belongs to Group 2 and Period 3 of the periodic table.

Order of reactivity of metals follow:

$K>Ca>Na>Mg$

Thus the LEAST reactive metal is Magnesium.