Question

Read the following and answer the following questions

Metallic Character

The ability of an atom to donate electrons and form positive ions (cation) is known as

electropositivity or metallic character. Down the group, metallic character increases due to

increase in atomic size and across the period,from left to right electropositivity decreases due

to decrease in atomic size.

Group I Group II

Li Be

Na Mg

K Ca

(i) Which element is most electropositive in group I?

(ii) Out of Ca and K which one is more electropositive?

(iii) Arrange the elements of group II in increasing order of atomic size.

(iv) Out of Li and Be which one is more reactive?

(v) Give the electronic configuration of Na if its atomic number i​

Answer 1

Down the group, metallic character increases due to increase in atomic size and across the period, from left to right electropositivity decreases due to decrease in atomic size. The ability of an atom to accept electrons to form a negative ion (anion) is called non-metallic character or electronegativity.