Question

"Alkali metals are good reducing agents as in case of alkali metals, outer ns-electron is very well shielded by the inner electrons."
Answer whether the above statement is true or false.
If true enter 1, else enter 0.

Answer 1

In case of alkali metals, outer ns-electron is very well shielded by the inner electrons. Thus, effective nuclear charge is very small. As we go down the group, shielding wins over the effect of the increasing number of protons in the nucleus. There is only one valance electron that it want to lose to achieve complete octet configuration. The alkali metals have low value of ionization energy which decreases down the group and so can easily lose their valence electron and thus, act as good reducing agents increases down the group.