The reason, as described below, is that reactivity increases as you go down a group on the Periodic Table. This can be proven with a simple experiment in which you drop a small piece of each metal into separate beakers of water. K is indeed more reactive than Na, which is indeed more reactive than Li. If sodium is to be placed above potassium then what about ceasium and francium? 182.55.242.11 ( talk) 14:17, 9 July 2011 (UTC) This series, and perhaps your confusion relating to the UK-US difference, is a RE-activity series, where most likely an American text book will show you an Activity series. If you read the article carefully, you will find the explanation. But isn't reactivity in a replacement reaction, which is an oxidation-reduction reaction, governed by reduction potential? This is what I was generally taught to go by, not a list of reactivity series.although the list that I have in a couple of handy texts agrees with the reduction potential ordering. Why isn't this consistent with the listed reaction series? I am well aware of general periodic trends which is what you are quoting. Looking to the CRC standard reduction potentials, the ordering is Li -3.405V, K -2.924V, Na - 2.7109V. I'm not a metals chemist, but I am an engineer and chemistry teacher. Hellclanner ( talk) 01:52, 18 October 2008 (UTC) Reply In the simplified reactivity series, sodium should be below potassium as potassium have one more shell than sodium which is far from the nucleus and is readily able to be lost.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |