Question

In view of their ionisation energies, the alkali metals are:

• A. weak oxidising agents
• B. strong reducing agents
• C. strong oxidising agents
• D. weak reducing agents

Answer 1

The correct option is B strong reducing agents

Alkali metals can readily lose their lone electron to form+1 oxidation state and can easily ionize this electron and this ns1 configuration results in alkali metals to have large ionic and atomic radii and they have high second ionization energy. This ionization energy decreases down the group and act as strong reducing agent.