Question

How do you arrange elements in order of increasing metallic character?

Answer 1

1. Atomic size increases as we move from right to left and from top to bottom in the modern periodic table.
2. The smallest atoms are at the top right and the largest atoms are at the lower left of the Periodic table.
3. As we move down the group, the effective nuclear charge which is experienced by the valence electrons decreases as the distance between the nucleus and the outermost electrons increases. Due to this, these outermost electrons can be easily lost.
4. The effective nuclear charge on the valence shells increases as we move from left to right in period. Therefore, the metallic character decreases when we move from left to right in a period but increases as we move down the group.
5. The increasing order of metallic character is P < Si < Be < Mg < Na.