Question

why Li is the strongest reducing agent and Na the weakest (alkali metals ) ?

Answer 1

Dear student!

Lithium is called as the strongest reducing agent because it has the highest ionization energy and very high hydration enthalpy value amongst all the alkali metals and it is because of its electronic configuration and smallest size while sodium is should have hydration enthalpy slightly less than lithium as it is after Li in the goup, but sodium has the lowest hydration enthalpy than others as it is highly reactive towards water and catches fire easily so in alkali metals sodium is considered as the weakest reducing agent.