Question

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


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

(1 point)

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 from right to left on the periodic table.

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

Yes — the first choice. For metals (which these elements are) reactivity decreases from left to right across a period. Elements on the left lose electrons more easily (they have lower ionization energies and greater metallic character), so they are more reactive; moving right across the period raises ionization energy and lowers metallic reactivity. (Nonmetals show the opposite trend.)