Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 2: Problem 56

The elements in Groups \(1 \mathrm{~A}(1)\) and \(7 \mathrm{~A}(17)\) are all quite reactive. What is a major difference between them?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Alkali Metals lose one electron, whereas Halogens gain one electron.

Step by step solution

01

Identify the Groups

Groups 1A (1) and 7A (17) on the periodic table need identification. Group 1A is the Alkali Metals, and Group 7A is the Halogens.
02

Understand Reactivity

Determine that both groups are highly reactive, with Alkali Metals reacting vigorously with water and Halogens being highly reactive nonmetals.
03

Compare the Electron Configurations

Compare electron configurations. Group 1A elements have one valence electron they lose to form +1 cations. Group 7A elements have seven valence electrons and gain one electron to form -1 anions.
04

Major Difference

Summarize the major difference: Alkali Metals are metals that lose one electron, while Halogens are nonmetals that gain one electron.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Periodic Table Groups
Elements on the periodic table are organized into groups, which are columns. Each group consists of elements that share similar chemical properties. For example, the elements in Groups 1A (1) and 7A (17) are known for their high reactivity. Understanding these groups helps predict how elements will behave in chemical reactions. In Group 1A, we have the Alkali Metals, and in Group 7A, we have the Halogens.
Electron Configurations
Electron configuration is the arrangement of electrons in an atom's electron shells. This configuration influences how an element reacts chemically.
In Group 1A, Alkali Metals have one valence electron. This means their outermost electron shell has one electron. Because it takes little energy to remove this single electron, these metals readily lose it to form cations with a +1 charge.
Conversely, the elements in Group 7A, the Halogens, have seven valence electrons. They need one more electron to complete their outer shell, making them eager to gain an electron and form anions with a -1 charge.
Alkali Metals
Alkali Metals are found in Group 1A (1) of the periodic table. They include elements like lithium (Li), sodium (Na), and potassium (K). These metals are highly reactive, especially with water. When they react with water, they produce hydrogen gas and a hydroxide. This reaction is exothermic, meaning it releases heat.
The high reactivity of Alkali Metals is due to their single valence electron, which they lose easily, forming positively charged ions (cations). Because of this, they are never found in their pure form in nature and are usually stored under oil to prevent them from reacting with moisture in the air.
Halogens
Halogens are found in Group 7A (17) of the periodic table. This group includes fluorine (F), chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br), and iodine (I). They are highly reactive nonmetals and can be dangerous in large quantities.
Halogens need one more electron to complete their outer electron shell, which makes them very reactive. They usually react with metals to form salts. For example, sodium (a metal from Group 1A) reacts with chlorine (a halogen) to form sodium chloride, which is common table salt. Unlike Alkali Metals, Halogens are found in various physical states at room temperature; for example, chlorine is a gas, bromine is a liquid, and iodine is a solid.

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

Use Dalton's theory to explain why potassium nitrate from India or Italy has the same mass percents of \(\mathrm{K}, \mathrm{N},\) and \(\mathrm{O}\).

Why was it necessary for separation techniques and methods of chemical analysis to be developed before the laws of definite composition and multiple proportions could be formulated?

State the mass law(s) demonstrated by the following experimental results, and explain your reasoning: Experiment 1: A student heats \(1.00 \mathrm{~g}\) of a blue compound and obtains \(0.64 \mathrm{~g}\) of a white compound and \(0.36 \mathrm{~g}\) of a colorless gas. Experiment 2: A second student heats \(3.25 \mathrm{~g}\) of the same blue compound and obtains \(2.08 \mathrm{~g}\) of a white compound and \(1.17 \mathrm{~g}\) of a colorless gas.

The tap water found in many areas of the United States leaves white deposits when it evaporates. Is this tap water a mixture or a compound' Explain.

Many chemical names are similar at first glance. Give the formulas of the species in each set: (a) Ammonium ion and ammonia (b) Magnesium sulfide, magnesium sulfite, and magnesium sulfate (c) Hydrochloric acid, chloric acid, and chlorous acid (d) Cuprous bromide and cupric bromide
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Chemistry Textbooks

Making Measurements

Read Explanation

Organic Chemistry

Read Explanation

Kinetics

Read Explanation

Nuclear Chemistry

Read Explanation

Inorganic Chemistry

Read Explanation

Chemistry Branches

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free