Eli5: Why are Group 1 Metals the most Reactive
In: Chemistry
They aren’t most reactive because they’re in Group 1, they’re in Group 1 because they have one free electron in their outer atomic shell, and that electron “wants” more than anything to be in a complete outer shell, and it gloms onto any “hole” in an outer shell that belongs to some other kind of atom. A reaction is essentially what happens when atoms with incomplete outer shells share elctrons.
The most reactive atoms have just one outer shell electron, and the least reactive atoms have just one “space” left over for an additional electron, and NON-reactive atoms like helium, argon, etc. have completely full outer shells. Group 1 metals (and hydrogen is also in group 1) are reactive because they readily lose this outer electron.
EDIT: I have been rightly corrected. Elements with one “space” left over are also highly reactive for a similar reason. Those with a partly-full outer shell are not as reactive.
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