F, Cl and Br are the elements each having seven valence electrons. Which of these (i) has the largest atomic radius, (ii) is most reactive? Justify your answer stating reason for each.
F, Cl and Br are the elements each having seven valence electrons. Which of these (i) has the largest atomic radius, (ii) is most reactive? Justify your answer stating reason for each.
(i) F, Cl, Br belong to the same group 17. Atomic size increase down the group. This is because new shells are added. Br has 4 shells, as compared to 2 and 3 in F and Cl respectively.
(ii) Out of F, Cl and Br, Fluorine is the most reactive because the chemical reactivity of non-metals decreases on going down in a group of the periodic table as moving down in a group of non-metals, the size of the atoms goes on increasing. Thus the nucleus of atoms goes deeper and deeper inside it and hence the attraction for the incoming electrons decreases. Therefore the tendency of atoms to gain electrons decreases, due to which their reactivity decreases.
(i) F, Cl, Br belong to the same group 17. Atomic size increase down the group. This is because new shells are added. Br has 4 shells, as compared to 2 and 3 in F and Cl respectively.
(ii) Out of F, Cl and Br, Fluorine is the most reactive because the chemical reactivity of non-metals decreases on going down in a group of the periodic table as moving down in a group of non-metals, the size of the atoms goes on increasing. Thus the nucleus of atoms goes deeper and deeper inside it and hence the attraction for the incoming electrons decreases. Therefore the tendency of atoms to gain electrons decreases, due to which their reactivity decreases.
