< Post-lab Discussion of Metal Reactivity Trends

Post-lab Discussion of Metal Reactivity Trends
Home Up Pre-lab Comments on Metal Reactivity Trends Post-lab Discussion of Metal Reactivity Trends Relating Metallic Reactivity to Atomic Structure Pre-lab Comments on Nonmetal Reactivity Trends Post-lab Discussion of Nonmetal Reactivity Trends Relating Nonmetallic Reactivity Trends to Atomic Structure

 

Post-lab Discussion of Metal Reactivity Trends

Let's take a look at your observations for the reactions of these four metals and take a look at what kinds of trends you were able to observe and see what kinds of projections and explanations we can come up with.

Let's take a look at how those elements compare with one another on the periodic table. Sodium and magnesium are both in period 3. In period 4 we have potassium and calcium. In group Ia are sodium and potassium and in group IIa are magnesium and calcium. We have 2 elements in each of 2 groups and also 2 periods, so we can make some comparisons. Section of Periodic Table Showing Na, Mg, K, Ca.

Within period 3, what happened? Which was more reactive? Was it sodium or magnesium? It was sodium. The more reactive metal was on the left and the least reactive was on the right. In period 4, what about the comparison of potassium with calcium? Well, again the most reactive was on the left and the reactivity got less as you went across. The vertical comparison in both group Ia and group IIa is that the reactivity increased as you went down the group. So the reactivity of metals decreases as you go from left to right and it increases as you go down on the periodic table.

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