Question

The reducing power of element increases by moving down in a group while decreases across a period.

Answer 1

• Ionisation potential and electron affinity are the two properties on which reducing power depends.
• When we move from left to right in a period the atomic size decreases and there is increase in nuclear charge so electron affinity and ionisation potential also increases
• Hence tendency to lose electron decreases across the period from left to right and thus the reducing property also decreases.
• The ionisation potential and electron affinity decreases along the group from up to down
• Hence tendency to lose electron increases therefore reducing power also increases from top to bottom.