Question

A student attempts to arrange four elements (as shown below) in order from most reactive to least reactive.




Is the arrangement correct, and why (or why not)?

(1 point)
Responses

No. An element’s reactivity decreases from right to left on the periodic table.
No. An element’s reactivity decreases from right to left on the periodic table.

Yes. An element’s reactivity decreases from left to right on the periodic table.
Yes. An element’s reactivity decreases from left to right on the periodic table.

No. An element’s reactivity decreases as atomic mass increases.
No. An element’s reactivity decreases as atomic mass increases.

Yes. An element’s reactivity decreases along with its atomic number.
Yes. An element’s reactivity decreases along with its atomic number.
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Answer 1

Yes. An element’s reactivity decreases from left to right on the periodic table.

Explanation: Across a period atoms hold their electrons more tightly (smaller radius and higher ionization energy), so metals on the left lose electrons more easily and are more reactive than elements to the right. (Note: nonmetal reactivity shows the opposite trend—nonmetals become more reactive toward the right—so the trend refers to metallic reactivity.)