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Question

Why are alkali metals considered to be powerful reducing agents?


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Solution

Reducing agent

  • A substance that loses electrons to other substances in a redox reaction and gets oxidized to a higher valency state is called a reducing agent.

Alkali metals

  • Lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, caesium, and francium. They are collectively known as alkali metals.
  • The general electronic configuration of alkali metals is noblegasns1.
  • Due to low ionization potential and having the smallest nuclear charge, they can easily lose an electron.

Valency of alkali metals

  • Only one electron is present in the valence shell of alkali metals.
  • They rapidly lose an electron, resulting in monovalent M+ ions.

Example

  • Lithium 1s22s1losses one electron easily to achieve the nearest noble-gas configuration1s2 and become more stable.
  • LiLi++e-.

Hence, alkali metals are considered to be powerful reducing agents due to their low ionization potential and having the smallest nuclear charge, they can easily lose an electron.


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