the lowest electronegativity?
(1 point)
an element with a
small number of
valence electrons and
a large atomic radius
an element with a large
number of valence
electrons and a small
atomic radius
an element with a
small number of
valence electrons and
a small atomic radius
an element with a large
number of valence
electrons and a large
atomic radius
9 answers
Electronegativity generally decreases as atomic radius increases and as the number of valence electrons decreases. Elements with a small number of valence electrons and a large atomic radius tend to be less electronegative because they are typically metals, which are less effective at attracting electrons compared to nonmetals.
Therefore, the choice that describes "an element with a small number of valence electrons and a large atomic radius" would have the lowest electronegativity.
The least reactive elements on the periodic table are found in the group with helium at the top, which is the noble gases (Group 18). Noble gases have a full valence shell of electrons, making them very stable and largely unreactive under standard conditions.
So, the correct answer is the group with helium at the top.
The correct relationship between reactivity and electronegativity is as follows:
An element will be more reactive if it has a very high or very low electronegativity.
This is because high electronegativity usually corresponds to nonmetals, which are highly reactive (e.g., fluorine), while low electronegativity corresponds to metals, which can also be reactive (e.g., alkali metals).
Among the elements listed, fluorine would have the greatest electronegativity. Fluorine is known to be the most electronegative element on the periodic table, with a Pauling electronegativity value of approximately 4.0. The other elements (lithium, boron, and carbon) have lower electronegativity values compared to fluorine.
The elements that would react most easily with each other are:
an element with a high electronegativity and an element with a single valence electron.
This scenario typically involves a highly electronegative element, such as a halogen (e.g., fluorine or chlorine), reacting with an alkali metal (which has one electron in its outer shell). The alkali metal is eager to lose its single valence electron, while the halogen is highly likely to gain an electron, resulting in a strong attraction between the two, leading to a vigorous reaction.
