Question

Which statement explains why the alkali metals are so highly reactive? Alkali metals have one valence electron. Alkali metals have seven valence electrons. Alkali metals have eight valence electrons. Alkali metals have two valence electrons.

Answer 1

Answer:

alkali metal show one valency which shows the reactivity of alkali metal

Answer 2

Answer: Alkali metals have one valence electron

Explanation: It is the tendency of most elements to attain the nearest noble gas configuration, if possible. Since, alkali metals have one valence electron or you may say one electron in the outermost shell, therefore they try to lose that electron in order to attain the nearest noble gas configuration, which is the last member of the previous period to which the alkali metal belongs to.

For example, Na has configuration 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s¹. So, it loses the last electron to attain the noble gas configuration of Ne which is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶.

This makes alkali metals very reactive.