Question

The two most reactive families of elements are the halogens and the alkali metals. How do they differ in their reactivities?

Short answer

The reactivity of halogens and alkali metals differs based on their electron configurations and the ways they achieve stability. Alkali metals have one electron in their outermost shell and tend to lose that electron, forming a +1 ion and achieving noble gas configuration. Conversely, halogens have seven electrons in their outermost shell and prefer to gain one electron, forming a -1 ion and achieving noble gas configuration. Additionally, the reactivity of alkali metals increases as we move down their group, while the reactivity of halogens decreases due to factors such as atomic radius and electron shielding.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding Electron Configurations

Reactivity in elements is closely linked to their electron configurations. Specifically, the valence electrons, which are the electrons in the outermost electron shell, play a crucial role in determining the reactivity of an element. Let's first review how the electron configurations for alkali metals and halogens typically appear. Alkali metals belong to the Group 1 elements and every alkali metal has one electron in its outermost shell. Halogens, on the other hand, belong to the Group 17 elements and have seven electrons in their outermost shell.

The Octet Rule and Stability

The Octet Rule explains that atoms are most stable when they have eight electrons in their outermost electron shell. This is because a complete outer shell allows for the strongest possible electron configuration, resulting in a lower energy state for the atom. Elements gain or lose valence electrons in chemical reactions in order to achieve this optimal configuration, either by gaining or losing electrons, or by sharing electrons with other atoms to form covalent bonds.

Gaining or Losing Electrons

Alkali metals, having just one electron in their outermost shell, are highly reactive because losing that electron will bring them closer to the stable configuration of a full electron shell. In a reaction, an alkali metal will most likely lose one electron to form a +1 ion, achieving the electron configuration of a noble gas. On the other hand, halogens are also highly reactive but in the opposite direction. With seven electrons in their outermost shell, they are only missing one electron to achieve a full electron shell. As a result, halogens prefer to gain one electron when reacting with other elements, thereby forming a -1 ion and also achieving the electron configuration of a noble gas.

Trends in Reactivity Within the Groups

Within each group (both alkali metals and halogens), reactivity follows a trend. As we move down the group, the reactivity of alkali metals increases, while the reactivity of halogens decreases. This is due to factors such as atomic radius and electron shielding, which affect how easily an atom can gain or lose its valence electrons. In the case of alkali metals, the atomic radius increases as we move down Group 1. The outermost electron is thus further from the nucleus and more easily lost to achieve a +1 ion. On the contrary, halogens have a decreasing reactivity as we move down Group 17. This is due to the increasing atomic radius and the increased electron shielding, making it harder for the nucleus to attract and gain an additional electron. In conclusion, the reactivity differences between halogens and alkali metals can be explained by their electron configurations, the way they achieve stable configurations (losing or gaining electrons), and the trends within their respective groups.