Question

The element at the bottom of a Group would expect to show a ____ metallic character than the element at the top.

Answer 1

• Metallic character depends on the ability of metals to lose valence electrons. For example: Potassium ($\mathrm{K}$), a metal, can easily lose an electron (${\mathrm{e}}^{-}$) to form a Potassium ion (${\mathrm{K}}^{+}$).
• $\mathrm{K}+\mathrm{energy}\to {\mathrm{K}}^{+}+{\mathrm{e}}^{-}$
• The extent of the metallic character increases while going down a Group.
• On moving down the Group, the atomic size of atoms increases. As the size of an atom increases, the valence electrons of the metal atom go far away from the nucleus, and hence, they can be removed easily.
• Thus, the element at the bottom of the Group would expect to show a more metallic character than the element at the top.