We know that potassium has more number of shells than sodium with reference to the number of shells it has. Therefore, it would mean that a very less force would be applied to the potassium atom to remove the valence electron as compared to sodium. Then, why is potassium more reactive than sodium?

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Solution

Actually charan the tendency to loose electron depend on the size and and distance of the outer electron from the nucleus. As we move down the group from Na (sodium) to K(potassium). The size increases from Na to K due to addition of shell. This increase in size due to addition of shell increase the distance of electron from the nucleus and thus decreases the attraction between the nucleus and outer electron which allow the easy removal of electron from an atom and show high reactivity. Since the distance of electron from the nucleus in case of K (potassium) is more than sodium due to increase in size. Hence, potassium is more reactive than sodium.

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